Pulwama, July 09: Through a drainage pipe sluice, water from Jhelum entered several kanals of land and premises of a few residential houses at Kanqah Bagh locality of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday.
The local residents from Pampore town informed Rising Kashmir that Jhelum water entered the colony through the drainage pipe sluice many times in the past.
Farooq Ahmad Mir, a local of Pampore town, said water again entered through the drain pipe and inundated a big chunk of agricultural land. “Premises of many residential houses in Khankah Bagh were also inundated,” he said, adding that there is some technical fault in the drainage pipe due to which water from Jhelum enters their colony and agricultural land frequently with a slight rise in its level.
The residents demanded rectifying the technical fault in the pipe sluice so that they don’t face this situation in the future.
However, the concerned Zonal Committee swung into action swiftly and started dewatering operations. The dewatering operation was in progress when this report was filed.
Sectoral Officer Flood, Nazir Ahmad, appealed to people to stay calm. “The zonal committee is monitoring the situation. The situation is under control,” he said, adding, “There was some problem here in Pampore which has been brought under control. The committee members are on their toes continuously monitoring the situation.”
AEE Flood Control, Pampore, Faisal Farooq, said that due to improvement in weather water level in Jhelum is receding in south Kashmir. “By today night, we hope that water level will normalise in the Pampore stretch of Jhelum subject to fair weather,” he said and appealed to the people to be cautious and not panic.
Officials further said that they will inspect the drainage pipe sluice to address the issue.
