SRINAGAR : After surviving the flood threat for about a week, situation in the Kashmir valley is limping back to normal as water level in river Jhelum was receding now following dry weather during the past 24 hours. The divisional authorities have now declared that flood threat has ended as the river Jhelum, which was at spate during last week of March, was now flowing below danger mark for the past few days despite heavy rain. The Meteorological department has also predicted that weather will remain mainly dry during the next five days. However, the month of March recorded more than 300 mm rainfall, highest in three decades resulting in increase in the water level in Jhelum and its tributaries. An official of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) told UNI that the water level has started receding due to dry weather, much to the delight of people in Kashmir. It had witnessed increase following heavy rain in south Kashmir on April 2 and 3 and it took about 12 hours to 20 hours to reach Srinagar. However, that period is now over and water has started receding and it will now witness more drop at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh, but will increase slightly at Sangam downstream. He said against 14.85 feet water level at 0800 hrs in Jhelum at Sangam, it was 14.60 feet at 0900 hrs ,which was more than seven feet below danger mark. Similarly, at Ram Munshi Bagh, the water level at 0800 hrs was 16.70 feet against 16.80 feet, still more than a feet below red mark, he said, adding that however, the water level at downstream Asham in Bandipora, the water level has witnessed increase. He said it was 12 feet at 0800 hrs and at 0900 hrs it was 12.08 feet, though still two feet below danger mark. Though rain is not new during the months of February to even in May, this time the valley received more than 300 mm rainfall during the month of March, breaking the record of three decades. It was in 1983 when the valley recorded 365 mm rainfall though there was no flood as almost all water bodies were open and the flow of water was smooth. The lowest 9.6 mm rainfall was recorded in March, 2004. Last year 220 mm rainfall was recorded in the month of March. However, this time there was a flood threat as almost all water bodies, nallahs, khuls and flood channel were encroached upon and filled. Major flood channel “Doodganga†passing through Batmaloo in the heart of the city was converted into commercial hub and surprisingly, the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) also constructed a shopping complex after the water body was totally filled. All other nallahs and khuls were also encroached upon and used for business hubs and residential houses. The administration has finally woke up and started removing some of the encroachments on water bodies. Diversion constructed in Ram Bagh flood channel at a cost of several lakhs of rupees by previous government, was also removed as it was obstruction smooth of water from the river Jehlum. It will be now seen if the drive will continue or will end after the situation improves further. (AGENCIES)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel