• Residents evacuated, infrastructure damaged
• Situation under control, ready to tackle pressure: CE I&C
• Kupwara & Handwara hit hard, rescue operations underway
• 336 families from flood-affected areas moved to safer places
• 51 villages partially inundated
• Twochildren among 8 injured after house collapsed in Uri
Srinagar, Apr29: Amidst incessant and intermittent rainfall, parts of Jammu and Kashmir grapple with rising water levels for the second consecutive day, triggering flash floods and landslides. The government has assured residents to stay calm as they are closely monitoring the situation.
The Jhelum River and tributaries swell dangerously close to flood alert marks at 10 pm, inundating several homes in north and south Kashmir. Flood-like situations emerge in various areas, with roads submerged and houses affected.Flood-like situation was also reported from around the banks of NallahPharo.
Authorities deploy teams to rescue stranded persons and provide assistance. Flash floods damage critical infrastructure, including bridges and roads, exacerbating the situation.
Hundreds of families are evacuated from flood-affected areas, with relief efforts prioritizing saving lives. Helpline numbers are established for information and assistance, ensuring coordinated response efforts.
Continuous rainfall prompts road closures and exacerbates flooding, posing risks to residents and infrastructure. Officials urge residents to adhere to safety guidelines and remain vigilant.
In view of inclement weather and avalanche warning issued by Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA),
In response to inclement weather and avalanche warnings, schools in Kupwara District announced a holiday for student safety on Monday.
However, the teaching/non-teaching staff shall attend their duties to monitor the situation and ensure safety of institutional assets of their respective institutions.
At Sangam, the water level has risen to 17.77 ft till 10:00 PM, which is nearly below 8 the flood alert mark. In Pampore also, the water has increased to 3.98 ft, which is near flood alert mark. The flood declaration mark in Sangam and Pampore is 25 ft and 5 ft, respectively.
At Ram MunshiBagh, the water was flowing below the alert mark as it has risen to 15.73 ft, while the alert mark is 18 ft. At Asham, it was flowing near 9.39 ft, which is 5 ft below the flood alert mark and Wullar (1578.00)=1577.20m.
VishowNallah at Khudwani (7.75/8.50)=7.70m, RambiyaraNallah at Wachi (5.4/5.7)=1.86m, LidderNallah at Batkoot (1.5/1.65)=0.54m, DoodhgangaNallah at Barzulla (3.65/3.8)=2.26m, Sindh Nallah at Doderhama (3.65/3.9)=2.16m.
However, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC) has stated that the situation is being monitored and there is no need to panic.
Chief Engineer at the Irrigation & Flood Control Kashmir Naresh Kumar told Rising Kashmir that so far no reports of any untoward incidenthave been received amid the rise in water level in the Jhelum River and other tributaries.
He added that advisories have been issued in almost every district, and the staff has been asked to remain on night patrolling.
Kumar further stated that the water is still flowing below the alarm level and there is no need to panic. With full confidence, I am telling the people that they should not panic as the department is here to tackle the situation and monitor it very closely,” he added.
He said that Flood Control room has been established at Ram MunshiBagh, which is functional round the clock. The water level in the Jhelum is somewhat alarming, but this is an intermittent rainfall. Continuous rainfall is a concern,” Kumar added.
Kupwara
The incessant rains increased the water levels of rivers and streams, triggering flash floods in parts of north Kashmir, including Kupwara and Handwara areas, resulting in damage to major infrastructure in the district.
Authorities were forced to deploy SDRF teams to rescue people stuck in houses in low-lying areas.
According to reports, north Kashmir’s Handwara sub-division was the most affected area, where water entered hundreds of houses. The administration directed residents of these houses to move to safer places. Additionally, the administration designated several government buildings for affected families.
The district administration reported, “Floods have damaged some major infrastructure assets, including Shumriyal Bridge, Khumryal Bridge (side walls), Shatmuqam Bridge, Sohipora-Hayhama Bridge, Farkyan Bridge, Shumryal-Gundajhanger road (cut off due to scouring), 2 RDD buildings at Kupwara, and the AD Handicrafts office building.
A breach in the DobanKachama dam was also reported. Furthermore, the Sopore-Kupwara national highway was closed as the road was inundated at Kawari.”
The water level has crossed the danger mark, and floods have been notified by the concerned Executive Engineers of Irrigation and Flood Control in their respective jurisdictions.
The District Administration relocated as many as 336 families from flood-affected areas of Kupwara district to safer places on Monday. 198 families were evacuated from Handwara tehsil alone. Furthermore, 51 villages in the district have been partly inundated, and the floods have fully inundated 5 villages in Handwara.
Meanwhile, all border roads have been closed due to fresh snowfall and avalanche threats.
Residents of the affected areas stated that they hadn’t witnessed such flood-like situations since 1992. They mentioned leaving their houses and moving to safer places. The flash floods also damaged some roads in north Kashmir, and several houses were damaged due to landslides.
Officials stated that their primary focus is on saving human lives. Once the water level decreases, they will assess the damage caused by the floods in north Kashmir.
The flash floods also forced the administration to close some roads, including the main road connecting Handwara to Sopore. A vehicle was also stuck on the road in Kulgam.
The water level increase in rivers and streams in the Kashmir valley was observed; however, there were no reports of flash floods from other parts of the Kashmir valley.
Baramulla
Landslides and flash floods caused extensive damage to multiple residential houses in Uri subdivision. Authorities assessing the situation and providing assistance to affected residents.
A police officer said that 8 individuals, including 2 children, injured as a residential house in Bhujithala, Uri, was hit by a landslide. All have been successfully rescued, he said.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla said that joint team of District Administration Baramulla J&K Police and Lachhipura
“Battalion of Chinar corps Indian Army along with locals rescued 7 persons trapped under debris after their house collapsed due to heavy rains in Bujhthala,TehsilBoniyar, Uri.Two persons injured in the incident are being shifted to the nearest medical facility for treatment,” he said.
In view of the incessant rainfall, District Admin Baramulla issued advisory for the people living near flood prone Nallahs& Rivers, & travelling through landslide prone areas to take utmost safety precautions.
Ganderbal
Meanwhile, an avalanche struck the Sonamarg region of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Officials said that no casualties or financial losses were caused since the avalanche hit the region towards the forest side, which resulted in no damage.
Pulwama
Due to continuous rains, the main road From Pulwama to Awantipora has been flooded at the Koil point. The water has also gone inside the houses, which has created problems for the people of the area. Crops and apple orchards were also damaged in the area.
Kulgam
Due to continuous rainfall from the last two days, the gauge at VeshowNallah in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district crossed flood declaration level at 7:00 pm on Monday.
The Irrigation and Flood Control department issued an advisory and requested the habitations residing along the embankments of Veshownallah and other water bodies to remain vigilant.
Besides, the department has directed the revenue, Police and other SDRF teams to remain vigilant in state of readiness to deal any untoward situation.
Meanwhile, district administration Kulgam issues helpline numbers in case of any assistance 9103424365, 01931-295900.
The deputy commissioners of the Kashmir valley have issued helpline numbers and urged people not to venture close to streams in light of the rising water flow. People have been urged to religiously follow the guidelines.
Meanwhile, police districts across the Kashmir valley have also issued helpline numbers for the general public, urging people to call them in case of any emergency. Police teams across all the districts of the Kashmir Valley are on alert mode given the inclement weather.
