Dozens of lives were lost and thousands of people got displaced in Kashmir due to flashfloods triggered by incessant rainfall since Tuesday morning. The situation is alarming in the wake of advisories that inclement weather would continue through Saturday.
The State administration, Army and the police have launched a massive rescue operation as hundreds of residential colonies in capital Srinagar and the countryside have been inundated. The authorities have asked the people living in low lying areas to migrate to safer places.
An Irrigation and Flood Control department official told The Pioneer that the flood fury is unprecedented as the water level in River Jhelum has surpassed previous records. The authorities have closed down educational institutions till September 8 (Monday) and special Haj flights have been postponed for the next three days. The Haj House in Srinagar has submerged while patients have been evacuated from the nearby Medical Institute Hospital.
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Finance Minister Abdur Rahim Rather confirmed death of 20 persons at a joint Press conference here. They said 50 houses and 500 water supply schemes have been damaged due to floods. They said that one bus carrying 50 passengers got washed away at Nowshera in Rajouri district where exact number of causalities is being ascertained.
The Ministers said that Rs20 crore (10 crore each for Kashmir and Jammu) have been placed at the disposal of Divisional Commissioners of both provinces for rescue and rehabilitation measures.However, the unofficial estimates on flood fury are alarming. Sources said that thousands of houses are submerged in many congested colonies in Srinagar, which have come up during the past two decades without proper planning and design.
Panicked by the soaring water level in Jhelum, thousands of residents fled away to safer areas. Many people took shelter in upper stories to escape the looming threat. “WE don’t know what is going to happen during the night. We have left all our belongings at our house and left for a safer place”, said Muhammad Sadiq, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar in Srinagar.
A Jhelum embankment has breached at Kandizal village after the flood-channel was filled to capacity. The Kandizal breach has lowered the water level in Jhelum by a few inches but the water has inundated dozens of villages and colonies on the left bank of the river. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Rohit Kansal issued an advisory asking the people living along the banks of river Jehlum and embankments of different water bodies to move to safer areas immediately in view of the flood situation.
Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, Mir Javed Jaffer said that water level was increasing in rivers especially in south Kashmir “but we are regularly monitoring the situation”.The vehicular movement has been stopped on Srinagar-Jammu and Srinagar-leh National Highways. The highways have been inundated at various places while rainfall has triggered landslides in more treacherous parts.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the flood situation at a high level meeting at Police Control Room and later visited various flood-prone areas. Authorities said over 5 lakh sand bags have been kept available at various places for emergency utilization. Zonal Flood Control Rooms have been established to keep people informed about the latest flood situation. The Indian Air Force has also been asked to keep air rescue plan in place.
Meanwhile, Met department officials said that moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers and snowfall will occur over higher reaches till Saturday which may trigger landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas of the State.
In this backdrop, Divisional Commissioner has enjoined upon all Deputy Commissioners, all concerned Heads of Departments and District Superintendents of Police to further reinforce their manpower and machinery and to be in a State of full preparedness so as to minimize disruption of essential services, road Connectivity, electric supply, water supply, Healthcare services etc and take immediate measures to evacuate people trapped in flood areas, an official spokesman said.
Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Shopian, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Ganderbal, leh and Kargil have been asked to advise the people living in flood prone areas and on the embankments of the rivers and streams to shift from their houses to safer places, so as to avert any untoward incident.
Jhelum above danger mark
Jhelum River crossed 30.7 feet mark at Sangam in south Kashmir, 7 feet above danger mark
low lying areas in districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar inundated
Jhelum river touched 21.8 feet level against danger level of 18 feet at Ram Munshibagh
Total discharge in Jhelum at 70,000 cusecs against normal discharge of 25000 cusecs
A breach at Kandizal in Budgam affected 70,000 people but stabilised flood level at 21.8 feet at Ram Munshibagh
60 per cent water supply schemes (533 schemes) disrupted in Valley
All nullahs namely lidder, Veshav, Rambiara, Feroz are flowing above danger marks. 70 villages affected
Entire Jammu division affected. Worst affected is Poonch where all flood protection works on nullah Suran are damaged. Approach to main Poonch bridge is also damaged
Rainfall continues in the entire Kashmir Valley and Jammu division
The rainfall would continue in both divisions for another couple of days