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This story is from March 30, 2015

Flood alert in J&K, Jhelum crosses danger mark in Srinagar

The deputy commissioner of Srinagar issued a flood alert late Sunday night after heavy rainfall in Kashmir over the past two days led to the Jhelum flowing at 16 feet, just two feet below the danger mark.
Flood alert in J&K, Jhelum crosses danger mark in Srinagar
SRINAGAR: Jhelum river crossed danger level in Srinagar and Sangam area of South Kashmir early on Monday morning, the officials said.
The deputy commissioner of Srinagar had already issued a flood alert late on Sunday night after heavy rainfall in Kashmir over the past two days which had led to the Jhelum flowing at 16 feet, just two feet below the danger mark.
Due to the persisting weather condition, the officials had expected it to breach the ‘safe’ level of 18 feet by Monday morning.
“People living along the Jhelum are advised to remain alert and shift to higher grounds,” said the divisional commissioner Farooq Lone, even as officials oversaw evacuation from several villages, and issued an avalanche warning in affected areas over the next 24 hours.
With the Jhelum at 16 feet at the measuring pillar in Ram Munshibagh, Lone had informed that the officials had tents ready at Sant Nagar marriage hall as well as the industrial estate in Bargala.
READ ALSO: Wettest March in 100 years in north, central India, weather department says
The rains began on Friday and the water level in the Jhelum rose steadily on Sunday, triggering alarm and reminding people of the catastrophic September 2014 floods in which 277 people were killed and lakhs of people displaced. Chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was in Delhi, rushed to Srinagar to take stock of the situation.
Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh told the J&K assembly, “The administration is on full alert following heavy rains in the Valley and the situation is being monitored continuously.” The CM would personally monitor the situation, he added.

READ ALSO: Avalanche warning issued in Kashmir

A shopkeeper tries to remove water from inside following heavy rain in Srinagar.(AP photo)
The downpour triggered landslides leading to the closure of NH-44, the road linking the Valley with the outside world including the winter capital of the state, Jammu.
Kashmir divisional commissioner Ghazanfar Hussain asked people to brace for possible landslides in the next 24 hours in prone areas of Kulgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kargil districts, an official spokesman said. People were advised not to venture in to avalanche-prone areas.
Agriculture minister G N Hajoora told the assembly that 221 families have been evacuated from various villages of which 99 have been provided with tents; 58 families have been shifted to government buildings and 64 families have shifted to their relatives.
Flood threat in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley prompted panic-stricken shopkeepers to empty their shops of stock to be ready for any eventuality approximating the September 2014 floods.
“We don’t want to meet with the same fate as we did last year,” said one shopkeeper.

A soldier walks through a flooded street in Srinagar. (AP photo)
Lal Chowk, Jawahar Nagar, Rawalpora, and Peerbagh areas in Srinagar are water logged due to heavy rain. A ministerial team is monitoring the situation hourly, an official said. Police also established a special control room in Srinagar.
Met director Sonam Lotus dismissed flood threat to the Valley. “Although there has been a rise in the water level of rivers and streams in the Valley due to overnight rains, there’s no cause for worry,” said Lotus.

A shopkeeper carries goods down a flooded road in Srinagar after heavy rainfall on March 29, 2015. (AFP photo)
(With inputs from PTI)
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