With rains unrelenting across UT, Kashmir felt the brunt of it today as flood situation worsened since morning . Several rivers and tributaries crossed flood alert and danger marks, with authorities urging people in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant.
As per the 11 a.m. gauge readings, the Jhelum river at Sangam was flowing at 23.88 ft, above the flood alert mark of 21 ft and approaching the danger level of 25 ft. At Pampore, the level stood at 4.43 m, close to the flood alert threshold of 4.5 m. Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar recorded 15.99 ft, still under the flood alert mark of 18 ft and danger mark of 21 ft but rising steadily.
Tributaries too showed alarming trends. The Vishow (Weshav) Nallah in Kulgam is overflowing, far above both the flood alert mark of 7.75 m and the danger level of 8.5 m. Lidder Nallah was measured at 159 m, at its flood declaration level of 1.5 m. The Sindh Nallah was at 3.42 m, nearing the flood declaration level of 3.65 m though slightly below the 3.9 m flood alert mark.Reports from the ground suggest several areas have already been hit hard. In Kulgam, locals said surrounding areas of the Arpat river including Bangidar and Mir Dantar were submerged. “Water entered our homes in the middle of the night. The police have been rescuing people from the worst-affected areas,” a resident from Bangidar in Anantnag said.
From Arwani, which was among the worst-hit areas in the 2014 floods, residents are taking precautions. “We are moving our livestock and elderly family members to safer places as the Weshav continues to swell. Nobody here wants to relive the nightmare of 2014,” said a villager. In Pulwama, locals reported that several roads were submerged after continuous rainfall since yesterday. “Many streams have overflowed and water from Ranbiara has entered apple orchards, causing huge damage to crops,” a grower said.In Ara Dehurna, residents said a bridge has been partially damaged. “The DDC members and other government officials reached the spot this morning to assess the situation, but traffic has been badly hit,” locals said.
Meanwhile, authorities have also suspended traffic movement on the Chagund bridge in Kulgam for safety reasons.The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has confirmed water levels are continuing to rise sharply, with the Jhelum and its tributaries likely to put more low-lying areas under risk if rains persist.As the water level in Nallah Sindh continues to rise, Ganderbal Police made announcements in Duderhama and Gangerhama areas of the main town, urging residents to exercise caution.
Follow us
