The flood threat in Kashmir Valley on Tuesday reduced in view of the weather holding up over the past 24 hours resulting in substantial decrease in water level of river Jhelum, which is now flowing below the flood level.
Jhelum was flowing at 16.45 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir, down over 6 feet compared to 22.80 feet 24 hours earlier, a police official said.
He said the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city has also reduced by more than one and a half feet and it was expected to drop further during the day.
Although the weather has been cloudy, there has been no fresh rainfall over the past 24 hours which has eased the flood concerns in the city.
The weatherman has forecast light to moderate rains later in the day and Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday led to a sudden surge in the water level of Jhelum and its tributaries, causing panic among the residents of the valley about the possibility of fresh floods.
Wide parts of Kashmir were devastated in floods last September. Residents in many areas in the city are complaining about water logging problem.
Residents in Pandrethan said the water coming out of nearby army headquarters was getting accumulated in the civilian residential areas.
“The army did install a small water pump on Monday and operated it for one hour. The personnel manning the pump left at 6 pm and promised to return in the morning but no one come to operate it so far,” Mohammad Abbas, a local resident, said.
He said nearly 2 feet of water has accumulated in the locality, which was devastated in September floods.
A senior army officer said although Pandrethan does not fall under the Cantonment Board, he would ensure that some help is extended in dewatering the area.
Schools and colleges have been closed across the Valley in view of the flood threat while ongoing examinations have been postponed.
However, University of Kashmir will hold examinations as per schedule from Wednesday in view of the improving flood situation, an official of the varsity said.
Image: Villagers watch the rescue operation at the site of a damaged house after a hillside collapsed onto a house at Laden village, west of Srinagar. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters
