Flood fears ease in Kashmir after weather improves

in Kashmir were relieved on Friday after rains stopped and the water level of Jhelum started receding.

On Thursday evening, authorities had declared floods in Srinagar and cautioned people to remain vigilant after water level in Jhelum crossed flood threshold of 18 feet. PM Narendra Modi spoke to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday and offered help. Offered all possible support from Centre in dealing with the situation,” Modi tweeted.

There were no overnight rains on Thursday and brief sunshine was witnessed on Friday, cheering the panic-stricken people. After the flood declaration on Thursday evening, many shopkeepers in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk in Srinagar, which is situated on one of the banks of Jhelum, removed their merchandise from the shops during the night as a precautionary move.

However, the water level at Sangam, where Jhelum originates, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district started receding after 3 am on Friday. The water level started receding in Srinagar at around 11am.

Rains lashed the state for three days since Tuesday, inundating roads and neighbourhoods in Srinagar. The government had decide to shut schools and colleges till Sunday.

Meanwhile, Kashmir experienced rare snowfall in April with vast areas blanketed in white.