Srinagar: Continuous rains in Kashmir Valley from several hours have sent river into flood stage. At 3p.m on Friday, the water level crossed ‘alarm mark’ of 18-ft in south Kashmir’s Sangam gauge, officials said.
“The water level recorded at 3p.m. was at 18.27-ft (alarm level) and as soon it crosses 21-ft mark, flood is declared,” said an official of Irrigation & Flood Control Department Kashmir.
At Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, the water at 3p.m. was 10.64-ft against the ‘alarm level’ of 16 ft and ‘flood level’ of 19 feet, the officials said.
At Asham in northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the official said, the Jhelum level was at 4.16-ft, way below the danger mark.
Regarding some tributaries, the official said, the water level in Vishow Nallah at Khudwani was 8.88 m, 2.35 m in Rambiyara Nallah at Vachi while the nallah Lidder at Batkoot was at 1.71m.
Originating from Kousarnag in Aharbal, gushing waters of Vaishaw Nallah triggered the 2014 flood in Kashmir.
Report said that the gushing water of the nallah following heavy rains since last night washed away many diversions in Kulgam district. These diversions were constructed following washing away of many bridges in 2014 flood.
Meanwhile, the department said that in view of precipitation, forecast and rise in water levels, the habitations residing along tributaries (nallahs) of south Kashmir, especially Vishow Nallah, Lidder Nallah, are advised to remain vigilant during the day and also at night today to avoid any sudden flood damages.
SDM Kokernag Rouf Rehman issued directions to concerned departments to activate ground staff as well as supervisory officials to move around their areas of jurisdiction.
“Check bridges, buildings electric poles, wires, water pipes public utilities and other assets and the entire official machinery shall maintain their headquarters and show responsibility towards public who need our help at this point of time,” he had said.
Heavy rains lashed several parts of the Valley, including the summer capital here and according to a meteorological department official south Kashmir’s Kokernag received the highest rainfall of 63.4 mm till 8:30 am on Friday morning. Its neighbouring Qazigund town, the MeT official said, received 58.6 mm of rainfall
Srinagar had 12.6 mm of rainfall till 8:30 am but the intensity of rains increased after that, the official said.
He said Pahalgam one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra which commenced on Thursday received 27.8 mm of rains.
