Flood threat gives sleepless night to Kashmiris

Residents voluntarily strengthened embankments

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 07-Apr-2017

The flood threat caused by the heavy downpour since last three days had given sleepless night to the people of Kashmir as most of residents in the Valley volunteered, without waiting for the government, to fill breaches and strengthen embankments till late Thursday night.The residents of various areas including Pampore, Lasjan, Bemina and others were strengthening the embankments of river Jehlum passing close their residential houses.The breach in river Jehlum in the September 2014 had damaged hundreds of houses and property. The government in the late evening had also declared flood due to the increase in the water level.The people at Pampore who were seen strengthening the embankments of river Jehlum in late hours said that the water level is above the danger level and it seems that one more catastrophe like 2014 will hit the Valley again.“We (residents) informed people in our area to come out from their homes to strengthen the embankments with sand bags,” residents in Pampore told KNS.

They said that the threat looming among the people has generated due to the failure of the government in completing the dredging process on time. “Despite several assurances, the Kashmiris have been once again left on god’s mercy. The much awaited dredging process should have been completed on time, which could have brought a sigh of relief among the people at this time,” they added.The people living close to streams was also seen standing on the embankments till late evening looking at the water level which was increasing till the wee hours of Friday morning.However, the water which was flowing above the danger mark started receding from Friday morning bringing relief to the people.Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) department, Muhammad Hanief Lone said, “The water in the river Jehlum which was flowing above the danger level is receding since this morning. (KNS)