Details

Written by: Mudasir Rashid

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 30 March 2015

SRINAGAR: The next 24 hours are crucial", an official reports said. "Given the pace with which the water is flowing down, the levels will cross flood mark early Monday and most possibly the danger mark later in the afternoon." This calculation, is based on the pace of surge that the Jhelum recorded during the whole day on Subday.

Water flow in south and central Kashmir is barely 1.5ft below the flood mark which would get breached in next six hours. The official reports said the people living in low lying areas and the belts that severely suffered last year should stay careful and move out of the danger's path. "God willing, if nothing happens, they can return as early as possible", they said.

The administration will ensure that the city stays safe. It may intervene in Jhelum at some level after the surge goes beyond the flood level.

According to official report" we have used nearly5000 sand bags on weaker embankment spots and are in the process of using many more as and when required, the temporary restoration of the September breaches still kacks compaction that usually takes a slightly longer time.

Authorities have already alerted SDRF and NDRF and they will be deployed in anticipation in vulnerable areas Monday morning. Besides, the officials have started hiring shikara boats and during the night most trucks carrying the boats would leave for South Kashmir. In Srinagar, one boat has been kept at the disposal of each police station and the numbers will be augmented as and when required.

Interestingly, the boat owners had refused offering boats to government saying they are still unpaid for the services rendered during September. Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu is reported to have settled the issue by announcing to release their dues early Monday morning.

Meanwhile authorities are facing a daunting task of managing water logging. Though most of the 70 fixed pumps, 50 mobile pumps and scores of fire tendrers are in operation, it is still a massive job. The problem is that the rains are getting more water to low lying areas than the capavity of these pumps. Though these pumps work efficiently when power is on, their capacity goes down when operated on alternative currents. Besides, Srinagar city lacks adequate number of pumps given the areas suffering from water logging.

Authorities repaired some of the pumps after last year floods but it is not known if any additions were made. All the giant water pumps that ONGC had driven to Sri agar post floods were taken back.

Met Office predictions suggest raining for three more days which adds to the crisis around. South Kashmir is experiencing massive rains and all the streams and rivulets are roaring at ferocious levels.

According to this story Kashmiri people fear repeat of last year's floods in Valley, the heavy downpour has inundated many low-lying areas of Srinagar including Rajbagh, Bemina,Lal-Chowk, and other worst-hit areas during the dead floods in September last year.

The main road in Srinagar and other parts of valley is covered by more than 20 inches of water while roads in commercial hub of Lal Chowk and the adjoining Regal Chowk, are also water-logged.

The heavy rainfall in Kashmir has left many parts of city waterlogged, creating fear of repeat of last year's floods among the residents.

Kashmir has been receiving heavy rainfall since Saturday, many roads were flooded and some people were also seen shifting their goods to safer places.