Heavy rain in south Kashmir, Jhelum swells

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 23

The water level in Jhelum has swelled following heavy rainfall in southern districts of Kashmir, forcing authorities to declare flood in the Valley.

At 9 am today, the Flood Control Department announced that the Jhelum had breached the flood declaration level of 21 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir and advised people residing along the river embankments and low-lying areas in south and central Kashmir, including Srinagar, to remain vigilant.

The flood declaration caused panic in the region, which is still struggling with the aftermath of the last year’s ravaging deluge.

In Srinagar, which faced the brunt of last year’s deluge, the water level touched the flood declaration mark of 18 feet at 1 pm this afternoon following which the authorities concerned once again advised people living close to the river embankment to remain alert.

According to the data released by the Flood Control Department, Anantnag and Kulgam districts received 100 mm rain, higher than the average monthly precipitation, in a span of mere 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

The high volume of rain in south Kashmir’s four districts resulted in the rise of water in the Jhelum from a gauge level of 2.05 feet, recorded on Tuesday morning, to 22 feet this morning.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon told The Tribune that several houses had been washed away in Lasoo village of Kulgam district where the Vaishaw, a tributary of the Jhelum, had changed its course.

Samoon, however, said no casualties had been reported from any part of the region and the flood water was receding.

The state Meteorological Department, meanwhile, said the intensity of rain was likely to decrease. It predicted scattered rain in the region for Thursday and dry conditions afterwards.

The Kashmir valley has struggled with repeated flood situations this year as the measures to mitigate the impact of flooding, recommended by experts, are yet to be implemented due to lack of funding.

Rain fury 

• At 9 am on Wednesday, the Flood Control Department announced that the Jhelum had breached the flood declaration level of 21 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir 
• In Srinagar, the Jhelum touched the flood declaration mark of 18 feet at 1 pm on Wednesday
• The Flood Control Department has advised people residing along the river and low-lying areas in south and central Kashmir, including Srinagar, to remain vigilant
• Anantnag and Kulgam districts received 100 mm of rain, higher than the average monthly precipitation, in 24 hrs between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings 
• The Met said the intensity of rain was likely to decrease