Srinagar, Sep 5: Many areas were submerged in Srinagar outskirts on Thursday after the water from river Jhelum entered the residential areas in Taigan and Shalina localities, prompting the authorities to launch a massive rescue operation. The administration has evacuated nearly 9500 people from different parts of the valley.
According to inputs, the heavy rainfall on Wednesday afternoon once again led to the rise in the water level in different rivers and streams across Jammu and Kashmir, leading to a flood-like situation across the region.
Water level recedes at Sangam
However, the water level amidst the improvement in the weather conditions has started receding. The Sangam station of river Jhelum has receded below the danger mark after a gap of 28 hours.
As per the details, the water was flowing at 24.53 ft this evening, just some inches below the danger mark.
The latest readings at River Jhelum show: Pampore: 6.36 m (danger mark: 5 m); and Ram Munshi Bagh: 21.62 ft (danger mark: 21 ft).
Other readings include Asham: 13.99 ft (danger mark: 16.5 ft) and Wullar: 1576.77 m (full level: 1578 m).
Regarding tributaries, the data show: Vishow Nallah at Khudwani: 7.39 m (danger mark: 8.5 m); Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi: 3.47 m (danger mark: 5.7 m); Lidder Nallah at Batkoot: 0.55 m (danger mark: 1.65 m); and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama: 2.07 m (danger mark: 3.9 m).
While the water level is still above the danger mark at Ram Munshi Bagh station and Pampore, the flood threat still looms across Srinagar, with some of the areas in the Srinagar outskirts like Taigan and Shalina getting submerged.
The rescue operation was immediately launched to evacuate the families from the flood-affected areas.
Nearly 9500 people evacuated
Earlier in the day, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg said that nearly 9,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas in Budgam as a precautionary measure following a breach in the Jhelum embankment.
He also urged people not to panic, assuring that the situation is under control as the water level is receding. “Some areas of Budgam were inundated, but as a precautionary measure, we carried out evacuations last night itself. Around 9,000 people were safely shifted to avoid any loss of life,” Garg told reporters.
Similarly, the Police in Srinagar said they rescued and evacuated nearly 200 families from flood-affected areas of the district.
The district police have formed quick reaction teams to actively assist stranded citizens, a police spokesperson said.
“In response to the ongoing flood-like situation and heavy waterlogging in various parts of the city, Srinagar Police, in close coordination with SDRF and River Police, has activated a comprehensive evacuation and relocation plan to safeguard the lives and well-being of affected citizens,” he said.
The spokesperson said teams from concerned police stations, along with River Police and SDRF units, have been deployed under the supervision of territorial officers across multiple vulnerable locations in the district.
“These teams have successfully evacuated and relocated nearly 200 families and individuals from the severely impacted areas, which included 24 families and houseboat dwellers who were rescued from Peerzo Island and Basant Bagh,” he said.
According to the spokesperson, 39 families were evacuated from Bonyarbal, S R Gunj, Malik Sahib, Safakadal, Pamposh Colony, Noorbagh, Guzarbal, and Madanyar Fateh Kadal. “Around 20 families and individuals were evacuated and relocated from Dedi Kadal, Habba Kadal, Zaindar Mohalla, Tankipora, Karan Nagar, Kursoo, Iqbal Colony, and Aramwari, while 20 families were rescued from Tailbal and vulnerable areas of Hazratbal,” he added.
