Srinagar,April 1: Flood fears resurfaced in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday after fresh rainfall was reported in Srinagar.
Rainfall which began last night and is expected to continue for next two days, can again cause surge in the water of level of River Jhelum and its tributaries, officials said.
The Met department has forecast light to moderate rains today, raising fresh concerns among people who were hoping to see the end of woes caused by floods.
Director of Indian Meteorological Department in Jammu and Kashmir, Sonam Lotus, said that Western Disturbance is persisting over J&K and by evening, its intensity might increase leading to more rainfall. Lotus added that tonight is crucial for the state.
Lotus further said that besides Kashmir, many hilly areas may experience moderate to heavy rainfall.
Water level in river Jhelum was also receding and it was flowing at 15 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh (Srinagar) and at 12 feet at Sangam (Anantnag) today (Wednesday) morning.
General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General Subrata Saha has said the Army has its operating bases all across the state to handle any situation arising out of the flood-like situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have got our operating bases in all corners of Kashmir ready to take on any situation. That is precisely what I had gone to check, we are ready to take on any emergency … What is different from the last time is that the spill channels rather than the Jhelum itself where the weaknesses (of Bunds) are evident because in most of the places there is lot of water logging and a bit of overflow of water from the spill channel. These two are adding together to complicate the problem,” Saha told ANI.
Eight teams of National Disaster Response Force have been rushed to Kashmir and Armed forces, along with four helicopters, have been placed in readiness for deployment at short notice.
In September last year, 300 people had died and tens of thousands were left homeless when unprecedented floods hit the state.
Businesses have started as usual in Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Maisuma and other uptown markets which are the commercial hubs of the Valley.
Most shopkeepers had shifted their merchandise out of these areas to safer places during the last three days.
The authorities have postponed all university and school board exams in the Valley up to April 4. All schools will also remain closed on Wednesday.
