Several Budgam villages inundated
Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Sept 5: The flood threat in Kashmir eased today as water levels in the Jhelum river receded below danger marks at all monitoring stations, bringing relief to residents after days of heavy rains.
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However, a major breach in the embankment near Zoonipora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday continued to push floodwaters into new areas, damaging crops, homes, and roads.
—Excelsior/Sajad Dar
According to Irrigation and Flood Control officials, the Jhelum was flowing at 16.05 feet at Sangam in Anantnag—well below the 25-foot danger mark—18.75 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, below the flood declaration of 21 feet, and 13.55 feet at Asham in Bandipora, also under the danger level. Tributaries including the Vishow, Lidder, Rambiyara, Sheshnag, and Sindh streams were reported to be flowing safely below warning levels.
Despite the overall improvement, floodwaters inundated several Budgam villages today, including Shalina, Rakh Shalina, Baghi Shakirshah, and Kanihama, before moving downstream and submerging a portion of Lasjan, Soiteng, Nowgam, Vyethpora, Golpora, Padshahibagh, Mehjoornagar, Tengan, Chakpora, Pohru, and Suto Kalan.
On the outskirts of Srinagar, water reached Khanday Mohalla in Nowgam, flooding homes and roads. “The administration asked us to save valuables and remain ready. But our standing paddy crop, cultivated over the whole year, has been badly damaged,” said Mohammad Ayoub Ganai, a farmer from Kanihama.
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The receding water also caused soil erosion and damaged embankments and other structures in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, particularly in Shamspora, Pushwara, Naidkhun, Harnag, Danter, and Batpora. Locals accused the Flood Control Department of abandoning protective bund work midway. “Hanjidander, Nathpora, and Nandapora remain cut off. We have been warning authorities for months,” Shakeel Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag, said. Another woman broke down outside her partially washed-away home, saying repeated pleas to the authorities had gone unheard.
In Pulwama’s Pampore town, traffic movement was suspended after cracks appeared on a protection wall at Drangbal and parts of the adjacent bund caved in. Authorities sealed the road with razor wire and diverted vehicles to the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. “This is a vital road. I have asked officials for immediate repair, but the real problem is weak embankments that repeatedly breach at the same spots,” MLA Pampore Hasnain Masoodi told reporters.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Awanatopra, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, confirmed the damage, saying traffic was halted as a precaution. “A detailed project report will be prepared for permanent repairs,” he said.
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