Flood declared in south Kashmir, people asked to be alert
Flood declared in south Kashmir, people asked to be alert
Yatra suspended, MeT says major floods unlikely but it’s better to be prepared.
Continuous rains in Kashmir Valley swelled the Jhelum river to breach floods declaration level in south Kashmir even as meteorological department predicted improvement in the weather from tomorrow.
According to officials, the level of the Gauge at RM Bagh is 20.82 ft at 9 am.We have issued a flood alert for low lying areas of Srinagar. People living in low lying areas & embankments of Jehlum in Sgr are requested to be ALERT & Prepared for evacuation.
“The habitation residing along the embankments of River Jhelum / Nallahs and in low lying areas of South Kashmir are advised to remain vigilant,’ Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control said. Besides the staff deputed on flood duty in South Kashmir is directed to report to their respective sectors/beats, he added.
Gauge Readings at 5 AM here on Saturday morning-
(1) RIVER JHELUM Sangam (18/21)=23.68 ft. Munshi Bagh (16/18)=20.35 ft Asham (14/14)=9.00 ft.
(2) TRIBUTARIES: Vishow Nallah Khudwani (7.0/7.0)=7.94 mt. Rambi Ara Wachi (5.7/5.7)= 3.76 mt. Lidder Nallah Batkoot (1.65/1.65)=1.52 mt
Heavy rains lashed several parts of the Valley, including the summer capital here and according to a meteorological department official south Kashmir's Kokernag received the highest rainfall of 63.4 mm till 8:30 am on Friday morning. Its neighbouring Qazigund town, the MeT official said, received 58.6 mm of rainfall
Srinagar had 12.6 mm of rainfall till 8:30 am but the intensity of rains increased after that, the official said. He said Pahalgam one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra which commenced on Thursday received 27.8 mm of rains.
Although there is been a slight improvement and there will be improvement tomorrow forenoon,” director of the local meteorological department sonam lotus Said.
He said,"there was moderate, and at place heavy, rainfall at due to monsoon and western disturbance. “There is the interaction of monsoon cloud and monsoon wind-- and western disturbance -- easterly and westerly which brought the moisture from Arbian sea and Bay of Bengal also and due to their convergence the rainfall occurred here.”
He added there can be a landslide in the sloppy area, flash flood, minor flood and water logging in low lying areas. “People are requested to remain calm but vigilant, prepared and not to spread rumours of flood. Looking at the forecast, the threat of a major flood is highly unlikely but nevertheless, it is always good to be prepared,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yatra was suspended in view of continuous rainfall in entire Valley.
In a review meeting held here today Shri Umang Narula, CEO, Shrine Board, informed the Governor N.N. Vohra, who is Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, that movement of pilgrims to the Shrine via the Baltal route was totally suspended due to the non-stop rainfall in the entire Yatra area since 27th June night, keeping in view the safety of Yatris. However, 1263 pilgrims proceeded from the Pahalgam/ Chandanwari route to Sheshnag on Friday morning.
At the close of the second day of the Yatra 1,287 pilgrims paid obeisance at Holy Cave.
-PTC News
