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.
IND vs AUS: Australia's poor move, Marsh-Maxwell-Hazlewood mock India's 'no handshake' policy
A new controversy has erupted over the Indian players' policy of not shaking hands during the Asi
The outbreak of the Corona epidemic seems to be decreasing in the country for the last week. The
Veteran badminton player and mentor of top shuttler PV Sindhu, Prakash Padukone, believes that In
While smartphone batteries are essential, their ability to charge quickly is also important. Fast
SC to hear Manmohan Singh's plea on April 1
New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court will take up for hearing on April 1 former prime m
Corona fear in Delhi: for the first time in two months, Delhi overtakes Mumbai in case of new case
New Delhi
The daily rising figures of the Corona case in Delhi are now being intimidated.
The Charanjit Singh Channi government of Punjab has made another populist announcement because of
After Supreme Court's rebuke to Nupur Sharma, Vivek Agnihotri's tweet went viral, see what he wrote
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's tweet is in the news after the Supreme Court rebukes Nupur Sharma's s
India-China Relation After deteriorating relations with India, now China's arrogance has started
Arvind Kejriwal: SC will hear the plea of CM Arvind Kejriwal today, know what is the matter?
The Supreme Court will on Monday hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging the Delhi
