Visits vulnerable sites, inspects protection measures to tackle any flood like situation
Srinagar, April 30 :
In order to take first hand assessment of the situation which has arisen due to incessant rainfall, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, on Monday late night undertook a whirlwind tour of various areas of Srinagar City to inspect the measures taken in the prevailing weather situation to prevent flood like situation in the district.
Besides, Additional Deputy Commissioner Syed Ahmad Kataria and Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Khalid Hussain Malik, the DC was accompanied by SDM East , SDM West, Senior Officers from Irrigation & Flood Control, R&B, SMC, PDD, UEED and other departments.
The DC, who is also the Chairman District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), visited different areas of the City including Jehangir Chowk, Residency road, TRC, Rambagh, Hyderpora Humhama, Mehjoor Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Kursoo Rajbagh, Zero bridge and other adjoining areas to take stock of the preventive measures undertaken to ensure effective flood management system.
He also inspected I&FC Control Room, Ram Munshibagh.
During the tour, the DC passed several directions to the concerned Officers for immediate compliance with
DC Sgr conducts
regard to the measures to be taken for avoiding any flood like situation and reaching out to the public to provide them timely assistance.
The Officers were also directed to put in place all requisite men and machinery at vulnerable spots, besides taking measures for water logging of inundated low lying areas. The DC asked the concerned to ensure that all dewatering and pumping stations are operational particularly at essential installations including hospitals, Power stations, Ration stores, besides in inner habitations, lanes and bylanes.
On the occasion, the DC was informed that sufficient number of sand bags have been kept reserved to deal with any exigent situation in the district. He was also informed that these sand bags are being laid at vulnerable spots as a preventive measure to deal with any flood like situation.
With a slight improvement in the weather conditions the flood threat in Kashmir receded on Tuesday. The water level in Jhelum and other water bodies began receding after three-day incessant rainfall stopped late last night.
The water level in the Jhelum had crossed the “flood declaration” mark in Srinagar on Tuesday morning triggering a panic among the residents.
According to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the water level of the Jhelum touched the 18-foot mark, the designated level for announcing a flood alert, at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar at around 8 AM. The water level of the Jhelum also crossed the flood mark at Pampore in Pulwama district “ Fortunately with the improvement in weather, the water level in the Jhelum at Sangam in south Kashmir was registered at 15.33 feet this evening while at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, the water level was recorded at 17.64 feet, nearly half feet less than the danger mark,” they said
Despite the threat receding, the authorities have advised residents of the low-lying areas and along the embankments of the river and streams in central Kashmir to be vigilant.
Due to heavy rains in the past three days, several low-lying residential localities were inundated in several parts of Kashmir. Authorities in Kashmir closed all schools in the valley on Tuesday as a precautionary measure, and the University of Kashmir postponed all exams scheduled for the day.
The crucial highways Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh Road, and Mughal Road connecting Kashmir to Poonch are closed due to landslides occurring at multiple points along the routes.
The Meteorological Department said the weather is likely to improve from Wednesday.
“From May 1 to 5, we expect generally dry weather with afternoon thundershower activity at a few places,” MeT said.
Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, Srinagar received 23.6 mm of rainfall, the tourist resort of Pahalgam received 40.8 mm , Verinag in south Kashmir 65.6 mm, Nowgam Handwara in north Kashmir 63.4 mm, and ski resort of Gulmarg 21 mm.
