River Jhelum in Kashmir crossed flood declaration level on Thursday after heavy rains in the region continued on third consecutive day but Director Meteorological said there is no need to panic and situation similar to September 2014 won’t arise.Heavy rains last night lashed Kashmir valley and in the wee hours, the region received snowfall, after a decade in the month of April. While upper reaches like Gurez, Zojila, Pahalgam and Gulmarg received 1 to 2 feet snowfall. The plains of the Valley also received moderate snowfall. At 8 pm, the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh gauge was 18.55 ft, Sangam 20.70 ftand Asham = 10.41 ft. Due to inclement weather, the Jhelum River crossed flood declaration level this evening. The low-lying residential areas of Srinagar including Bemina, Jawahar Nagar, HMT, Qamarvari, Padshahi Bagh got water-logged since morning and the water entered residential houses. The commercial hub Lal Chowk also was water-logged.Police along with the officials of SDRF and Fire & emergency rescued five persons from the Brangi Nallah in Kokernag area of Anantnag district. Anantnag police was informed that a Tata sumo skidded off the road and fell into the Barangi Nallah at Dandipora, Kokernag.Following this information, a police party of police station Kokernag alongwith the officials of SDRF/fire & emergency immediately reached the spot and launched rescue operation, a police spokesman said Thursday.
After hard efforts of the joint party five passengers identified as Mohammad Abdullah Wani son of Lassi Wani resident of Bidhad, Irshad Ahmad Khan son of Mohammad Yousuf resident of Gadool, Nuzhat Bano wife of Bilal Ahmad Bhat resident of Watnad, Shaheena Jan daughter of Bilal Ahmad Bhat resident of watnad and Fasal Ahmad Bhat son of Bilal Ahmad Bhat resident of Watnad were rescued and shifted to Sub District Hospital Kokernag for treatment.Meanwhile, two more persons who were also travelling in the vehicle are yet missing and efforts are on to trace them out. In north Kashmir’s Pattan, Delina, Tarzoo Sopore, residents were evacuated from their respective areas as water entered their houses. In south Kashmir, half-a-dozen diversions were washed away while people from many flood prone villages shifted to safer places.Police said it shifted some families from Sopore and Kupwara to the safer locations after inclement rains and snowfall led to the water-logging and increase in the water levels in these areas. Besides, police provided its helping hand to the people and their vehicles stuck due to snowfall in Kupwara and Baramulla.Four families were shifted from Kawari village to the safer location, besides policemen provided helping hand to the people and their vehicles who were stranded due to snowfall at many places in the Kupwara district. Policemen also restored the traffic after they cleared fallen trees from the main road at Tikker.In Sopore, Police shifted people from some areas of Tarzoo, Panzipora, Hygam, Dangiwacha, Behrampora to safer locations. These people were trapped because of the increase in water level of Khursi Nallah. Police in Baramulla also launched rescue and road clearance operations. The roads which were blocked by the uprooted trees were cleared and the vehicles which were stuck due to snow fall were provided helping hand.
Divisional Administration Kashmir Thursday issued an avalanche warning for next 24-hours for hilly and avalanche prone areas of Kashmir Valley and Kargil district.“High danger avalanche warning valid for next 24-hours from April 06 to April 07, 2017 exists for avalanche prone slopes of Kargil. While as medium danger avalanche warning exists for Kupwara, Bandipora, and Baramulla districts of Kashmir Division during the same period,” a statement of the Divisional Administration said.Accordingly, all concerned Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the aforementioned period and monitor the situation regularly to avert any untoward incident.Meanwhile, Director MeT Sonam Lotus took to Facebook to apprise people about flood situation. He wrote: “Since the morning of 4th April, most places of J&K has been receiving continuous moderate to heavy rain and snow(since today morning in Srinagar & surrounding areas). As expected, higher reaches received heavy snowfall with Gulmarg reporting 1 feet this morning and snow in whole Ladakh region.
“Snow in April in plains of Kashmir is not a frequent or annual phenomena but not unusual either as on earlier occasion also there has been snow in April-May as well. Rainfall for continuous 2-3 days brings down the temperature and this led to snow in plains.”“Weather Outlook for nxt 1 week: Gradual decrease in rain/snow from today and significant improvement from 7th( occasional light rain on 7th can't be ruled out ). The weather system still persists over J&K and is moving towards East North East of Srinagar. It is still raining in most parts of the state but here has been gradual decrease in rain/snow from this afternoon. There will be significant improvement in weather from tomorrow Friday 7th April,” the weatherman said.He wrote: “Weather Watch: It is observed on earlier occasion also that rainfall for continuous 2 days(48hrs) usually leads to inundation of low lying area, waterlogging etc. in Kashmir valley obviously due to nature of topograph, land use, etc.“Since the system is weakening, a flood of the magnitude of 2014 won’t arise. So please keep cool, be vigilant and stay safe and dont get panicked. If God is with us who can be against us..! Best wishes to all.”(GNS)