Srinagar, March 29 (IANS) The Kashmir Valley faces no flood threat, authorities said on Sunday, as many residents of Srinagar began shifting to safer areas as the water level in the Jhelum rose menacingly.
The Jhelum's level reached 12 feet at the Ram Manshibagh in Srinagar overnight following incessant rains, triggering panic in many parts of Srinagar that faced unprecedented floods in September 2014, killing over 200 people and affecting some 700,000 residents.
Sonam Lotus, director of the meteorological office, on Sunday dismissed any flood threat to the Kashmir Valley.
His word should bring relief to residents in Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar and Gogjibagh areas of Srinagar, many of who began shifting valuables to homes of friends and relatives in the old city part of Srinagar on Sunday.
The flood control department, which is on high alert, told IANS that the present water level in Jhelum was much below the danger mark of 18 feet at Ram Munshibagh and so there was no reason to panic.
"We have kept the entire administration including the flood control department on alert," Gazanfar Hussain, Kashmir's divisional commissioner, told reporters here. "There is no reason to panic."
Official assurances, however, mean little to the people of flood-prone areas where the September 2014 flooding caused widespread destruction. The scars and memories of that period still haunt the locals.
Lotus told IANS on Sunday: "Although there has been a rise in the water level of rivers and streams in the Kashmi Valley due to overnight incessant rains, there is no reason to worry.
"Every downpour and precipitation does not bring a flood. There is little likelihood of any flood in the valley because of the current western disturbance. There will be a decrease in precipitation tomorrow onwards.
"Another western disturbance is likely to hit the state on April 2 but that is going to be weaker than the present one.
"Therefore, I do not think we are facing a flood threat this time although mountain streams need to be watched for any sudden rise that can cause local damage and trigger landslides."
Lotus, however, advised people to exercise caution on the Srinagar-Jammu highway which he said could get blocked due to landslides in Ramban district.
'Liquor' in the gutter: Taliban seizes 3000 liters of liquor and pours it into Kabul's canal.
The Taliban government of Afghanistan has launched a campaign against it after banning the sale o
Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik seems to be vocal about the issue of farmers. He once again ta
Normal life has been derailed due to rains and floods in more than 22 states of the country inclu
The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha amid opposition from opposition parties. Toda
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Kartik Aaryan is currently the first choice of dir
Six days have passed since the Israel-Hamas war. More than 2800 people have lost their lives so f
China has created such a lethal weapon through which it can target and eliminate satellites prese
Oscars 2025: Aamir Khan's dream shattered, Kiran Rao's film Laapataa Ladies out of Oscars
While Aamir Khan is the Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood on the one hand, on the other hand, his ex
Taliban seals Pakistan border, what will be the effect on trade relations with India?
After the Taliban's capture of Kabul, the most feared trade with India was being raised. Now it s
The first Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC) in the country has been set up in Faridabad, adjac
