Water recedes in Jhelum but rain forecast adds to worry
SRINAGAR: The water level of the Jhelum river on Sunday started receding as rains subsided but fears of flooding still loomed large among authorities with the weatherman’s prediction of more rainfall in the state on Monday.
The water level in the Jhelum, which traverses from south to north Kashmir, fell to 16.9 feet in south Kashmir’s Sangam observatory at 4 pm on Sunday. It had reached the flood declaration level of 21 feet on Friday evening and reached a high of 23.8 feet on Saturday.
In Srinagar’s Ram Munshi Bagh observatory, the water level mostly remained at 20.9 feet on Saturday, which is above the flood declaration level of 18 feet, and only started receding marginally by early Sunday morning to reach 18.9 feet at 4 pm.
“The levels are receding but we are on full alert and not standing down,” said deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah.
Shah said more the water levels are likely to increase on Tuesday and Wednesday. An official from Srinagar’s meteorological department office also said the state is likely to receive light rainfall for a “couple of days”, starting from Monday evening.
“We have already established 44 relief camps in safe areas and they will continue to remain operational. There is no need to panic as a lot of water has come down but we will still be geared up,” Shah said.
Kashmir divisional commissioner, Baseer Ahmad Khan said the situation is being closely monitored and that there was no need to panic. He said the administration is fully geared not just in terms of rescue operations, but also for rehabilitating those affected by the possible flood.
He said dewatering efforts at several areas were also rigorously underway.
He said all 44 relief camps have been equipped with essentials such as shelter and food.