J&K Govt. Sounds Flood Alert In Jhelam Due To Incessant Rain
30 March , Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir government has sounded flood alert in Kashmir valley after water level in the Jhelum river continued to rise due to incessant rain.
A government spokesman said that people living on the banks of Jhelum have been asked to remain alert and vigilant.
According to official sources, water level in Jhelum has touched 18.4 feet at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar. Elderly people, women and children have also been advised to move to safer places or camps that have been established in the Valley.
Rescue camps have been established at EDI Pampore and Marriage Hall Sanat Nagar.
The continuous rain since Saturday has led to water-logging in majority of the city areas. The water-logging of roads, rising water level of Jhelum and Flood channel has created panic among the people in various localities of Srinagar city which were worst hit by September 2014 floods.
People in these areas shifted house hold items and other valuables to the homes of friends and relatives in the old city part of Srinagar and other safer places yesterday.
The shopkeepers in these areas including city Centre Lal Chowk have shifted their goods to the safer places. AIR correspondent reports that many diversions were washed away which were constructed after last year’s floods washed away several bridges in South Kashmir especially in Pulwama and Kulgam districts.
Meanwhile, Police and civil administration have evacuated 237 families in South and North Kashmir and moved them to safer places.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has issued an avalanche warning for next 24 hours in the avalanche prone areas of Kulgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kargil districts. Kashmir University and J&K Board have postponed all their exams scheduled to be held today, Monday .
Meanwhile, J&K government has asked people not to panic and assured them of all possible help. A dedicated desk has been set up in the Police Control Room for the assistance of the people in waterlogged areas of the Valley.
Two National Disaster Response Force, NDRF teams comprising 100 personnel are being rushed to Jammu and Kashmir today as part of contingency measures in the wake of the flood alert in the state.