As if the havoc caused by September 2014 flood was not enough, the nature has once again turned fierce and ferocious on the people of the State. Incessant rains for 36 continuous hours and fresh snow on the higher reaches all combined to wreck havoc with the valley. Waters of the Jhelum rose to alarming level, nearly 18 feet above the normal level sending down shock waves to people residing in low-lying areas of Srinagar city, which saw worse type of disaster in September floods.
Tragedy befell a homestead in remote village named Laden in Budgam district where a huge mudslide came hurtling down from the hill. It crushed and swept away the shelter of unlucky Ghulam Nabi Hajjam at about later part of the night. Thirteen people of the family including one child and three others were trapped and buried alive under mudslide. Rescue operations conducted by the police and rescue teams besides the local inhabitant could pull out only nine dead bodies until reports came in last. When water crossed the danger mark, authorities sounded flood alarm and advised people to withdraw to safer places and not take any risk. Many villages in the valley are inundated and communication cut off. Schools are closed down for 4 days and all precautionary measures to meet the situation are in place.
After talking to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi about the flood situation in the valley, Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed flew straight to Srinagar to take stock of situation and arrangements underway to meet the challenge. On return to Jammu, he issued a suo moto statement in the Assembly and appraised the house of current flood situation and rescue arrangements made by his Government. He said that there was slight relent in rains and during past several hours the Jhelum waters had shown a trend of coming down from the level that was at Sunday midnight. According to reports, it was receding at the rate of 11 inches per hour.
Regular reports indicate that the Government had moved in time to remain alive to the impending dangers. The Police mounted night vigil to monitor the rising waters and at the same time kept ready, all rescue paraphernalia boats, tubes, motor launches, ropes etc. Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has ordered evacuation of people from low-lying areas that are threatened by floodwaters.
Thanks to the agile Government in the State, it took full precautionary measures to meet the threat before hand. Chief Minister talked with the Union Home Minister who assured him of all possible help to overcome the difficult situation. Eight National Disaster Response Force teams have already arrived in Srinagar and more teams are expected any moment. Airlifting of essential commodities had already begun and the Prime Minister had ordered 200 crore rupees from his relief fund for meeting the requirement of the State. The State itself has released 25 crore rupees for Kashmir and 10 crore rupees for Jammu from its State Disaster Management organization. This money is at the disposal of Divisional Commissioner who has ordered the Revenue and Police authorities to identify the families that have suffered in terms of either human lives or livestock and houses or structures. Entire police force in the valley is geared up to the situation and it is keeping close watch on the situation. It is highly commendable that dewatering of places in the city where rainwater has accumulated has been done notwithstanding the pouring rains and this is a timely step which should be appreciated. If weather conditions improve, there is possibility of water in the river receding rapidly. Special control rooms have been established which are coordinating information and rescue operations. About 320 families have been evacuated to safer places and they are provided temporary shelter and necessaries for life. In the meantime, Police rescued 728 people from different parts of Kashmir who had been trapped in floods. According to a rough estimate 200 structures including 176 residential houses, have developed cracks owing to land slipping underneath in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
Jammu was faced with mid-day darkness owing to overcastting dark black clouds, which hurled down rain and hailstorm. Traffic on Jammu- Samba track remained disrupted for some time and internal city traffic came to a temporary halt.
This is the second time in six months that the State is face to face with floods. This calls for long-term strategy of meeting new challenge. Deforestation of Jammu and Kashmir region is one of the important causes of landslide and flash floods. Government shall have to take note of the threat and pay its attention to planting lakhs of new saplings and nurturing them on hills that are close to the National Highway or where there is habitation. Evacuation of encroachments made on the banks of rivers and nullahs has to be done on war footing. Raising and strengthening the bunds of two major rivers in Kashmir, namely Jhelum and Sindh, and 2 more in Jammu, namely Tawi and Chenab, is a huge task and must be undertaken speedily. The Housing Department should strictly enforce the policy of not allowing residential structures to be raised on low-lying lands that are prone to floods. Early warning system of floods and other natural calamities has to be streamlined. And above all, disaster management agencies, Police, village Panchayats and administrative functionaries all have to be activated so that they have a clear roadmap what is to be done in a situation of disaster especially floods and earthquakes. We have the State Disaster Management Authority but it is toothless. The infrastructure needs to be improved and made effective so that any calamity can be addressed.
In fact, the State Government should not remain content with the Flood Control Department. A master plan has to be produced which takes flood situation in the valley into account for controlling. It has to be a long-term policy. Existing Flood Control Department is the agency that has been engaged in drudging the river for de-silting purposes. However, in reality the task of controlling floods in the State is a task for which a comprehensive agency shall have to be created. Therefore, we suggest creation of study and control agency of floods in J&K.
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