Cracks along Jhelum River embankment sparks panic among Anantnag residents

Anantanag, July 15: Panic gripped among the residents of Batengoo in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district when the road along the Jhelum River developed cracks.
Over the past five days, the villagers of Batengoo have witnessed the gradual expansion of the cracks in the road along the Jhelum embankment.
Locals said that the situation has escalated to a critical state, causing panic among the residents, who fear the possibility of water breaching the road and entering their homes.
A local resident of Batengo, Aasif Ahmad said, “The situation is extremely concerning. We fear that with each passing day, the cracks will widen, and the road might collapse. If that happens, our houses will be inundated, and we could lose everything we have worked so hard for.”
“It’s not just about our homes; it’s also about our lives. We have small children and elderly family members to take care of. If the authorities don’t take immediate action, we could be facing a disaster,” he said.
The locals allege that the embankment’s deterioration is being exacerbated by unregulated and improper sand extraction from the river.
They appealed to the concerned authorities to promptly address the issue and initiate urgent repairs to prevent any potential disasters.
However Xen Flood Control Division Anantnag told Rising Kashmir that they immediately rushed to the spot and placed sandbags alongside the cracks, other preventive measures have been taken to prevent the embankment from further damage.
“Due to the recent rise in water levels in the Jhelum, the embankment has witnessed cracks,” he said.
He informed that this portion is part of the Jhelum Flood Management Plan, which has already received approval and is currently awaiting technical assessment.
“Every possible step will be taken to ensure the safety of the residents and their properties as the safety and well-being of the residents are of utmost importance to us, and we are working diligently to mitigate the risks,” he said.