J&K: Incessant rains cause flash floods in valley

The Srinagar-Gulmarg road has been closed for the vehicular traffic, after a vital bridge near Kunzer was damaged due to flash floods, caused by the incessant heavy rainfall.

The bridge was damaged by the flash floods caused by rains since Saturday afternoon.

In north Kashmir, Ningli stream has changed its course near Wagoora village and has damaged a few culverts. The water flooded the vast agricultural land in the area.

“Police has rushed to the spot, and they are monitoring the situation,” said a resident of Wagoora. “If these rain continued, more damage could happen.”

In South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, hundreds of families living near the banks of Jehlum River have shifted to safer places, after increase of the water level in the river.

Though several areas in the Srinagar city are waterlogged, officials said that the Jehlum River is flowing below the danger mark.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad told The Indian Express that there is no flood situation and there is no need to panic. “In Srinagar, several areas are waterlogged due to the rainfall, but the Jehlum river is flowing several feet below the danger mark,” he said. “We are monitoring the situation very carefully.”

MET Director Sonam Lotus said that the weather is unlikely to improve till April 4. “Every year in the month of March, valley witnesses rainfall,” he said. “There is no need to panic, the rainfall is not same which we witnessed during September 2014 floods.”

J&K government has sent a team of four ministers too valley to monitor the situation arising out of the incessant rains.

Source:: Indian Express