Three houses collapse in Budgam district, 16 members of a family buried under rubble, 21 reportedly missing
Fear of last year’s extensive floods came back to haunt Kashmiri people after Sunday’s incessant rainfall raised the water level of the Jhelum.
In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, three houses collapsed due to heavy rainfall, the police said. Around 16 members of a family were buried alive when their house collapsed at Laden village in Neelnag area of Chadoora town. According to the police, around 44 structures, including eight residential buildings and 10 cowsheds, have been damaged in the district. Till now, 237 families have been evacuated.
The government sounded the red alert in the wee hours of Monday after the water level at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bag crossed the danger mark. At 2 pm, the water level at Sangam stood at 21.70 feet and that at Ram Munshi Bag was flowing at 19.70 feet. These are check-posts set up by the irrigation and flood control department to monitor the water level. The normal level should remain around 16 feet.
Government sounds caution
The government has advised people living in low-lying areas in and around the river to move to safer locations.
“We may have to face a low-magnitude flood this week or soon after. Jhelum’s floodplains, including those in Srinagar city, will be inundated. ... the probability of a flood-like situation shall increase with every passing day till September. This is primarily due to high groundwater level all over the Kashmir valley which occurred due to last year’s flood and a wet March,” the head of the department of earth science at the University of Kashmir, Shakil A Romshoo, posted on social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deputed Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to monitor the relief operations. Chief minister Mufti Mohammad Syed, who was in Delhi, has rushed back to monitor the situation.
At least100 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been rushed to Srinagar.” Communication lines are intact and we are prepared,” OP Singh, who heads NDRF, said. The chief minister has asked the army to be on standby.
More rainfall to come
Meanwhile, the MET department has predicted three more days of rainfall. In view of the flood, the government has ordered the closure of schools for two days.
Relief camps have also been set up to help the flood-affected people. Deputy commissioner Farooq Ahmad Lone said marriage halls had been turned into relief camps.
Heavy rainfall has resulted in water logging in many low-lying areas of Srinagar, including Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar, the most affected areas during last year’s floods.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the third consecutive day due to landslides.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.