Jhelum was flowing at 16.45 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir, down over six feet compared to 22.80 feet 24 hours earlier, while the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city also reduced by more than one-and-a-half feet and it was expected to drop further during the day.
Although the weather has been cloudy, there has been no fresh rain over the past 24 hours, which has eased the flood concerns in the city. The weatherman has forecast light to moderate rains later in the day and on Wednesday.
“Light to moderate rain is expected in Kashmir over the next 24 hours,” a MET department spokesman said.
However, the Centre said the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir so far is not as grave as last year but authorities are alert to deal with it.
“The situation is not as grave as last time. But we are fully alert and if required we will send more assistance,” said Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Bagdogra in West Bengal.
A senior police official said that six bodies were recovered from the debris in Laden village in Budgam district, taking the toll to 16 in the state. One person trapped in the landslide in feared dead.
Four houses had collapsed due to the caving in of earth in Budgam on Monday, trapping two families.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had on Monday said there was an “unfortunate” death in Udhampur and there have been some flash flood in Jammu as well.
The process of evacuating the affected is underway as eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to Kashmir.
While two teams have taken position in Srinagar, under Anantnag and Humhama police station areas, three other teams were airlifted on Tuesday from various locations to the summer capital of the state which is on alert due to the situation in the aftermath of heavy rains.
“As on date, a total of eight fully equipped search and rescue teams of NDRF shall be available for any response in case of floods in the Kashmir Valley,” stated an NDRF statement.
Armed forces, along with four helicopters, have been placed in readiness for deployment at short notice after local authorities had declared a flood situation in the Valley.
Heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday led to a sudden surge in the water level of the Jhelum and its tributaries, causing panic among the residents about the possibility of fresh floods.
Schools and colleges have been closed across the Valley in view of flood threat, while examinations have been postponed.
However, the University of Kashmir will hold examinations as per schedule from Wednesday in view of the improving situation, a university official said.
The situation had its echo in the Assembly with members of opposition National Conference and Congress staging a walkout, accusing the government of “undue delay” in rescue operations.
Two members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — Mushtaq Ahmed Shah and Zahoor Mir — also staged a walkout, protesting the non-availability of dewatering pumps in their constituencies.
The Central government had on Monday granted Rs 200 crore as immediate relief as Prime Minister Narendra Modi rushed minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to Kashmir for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and to coordinate with state authorities with regard to the requirements.
In September last year, over 280 people had died and tens of thousands were left homeless when unprecedented floods hit the state.
Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens partially
The strategic Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was opened for one-way traffic on Tuesday as improved weather and receding water level in major rivers lessened the danger of damage by floods in the state. “The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been opened for one-way traffic today,” said a senior police officer on Tuesday.
“However, only light vehicles will be allowed to move on the highway from Jammu to Srinagar.” Over 2,000 Valley-bound passengers are stranded in Jammu for the past three days because of the highway’s closure. Authorities said on Monday if the highway could not be reopened on Tuesday, the Air Force would be approached for arranging special sorties to airlift people stranded between Srinagar and Jammu. More than 800 people from various areas have been rescued and shifted to safer places by the army and the civil administration in the state so far.
Control room gets 30,000 calls, SMSes
The Special Control Room, set up by the J&K Police to help people, has received around 30,000 calls and messages in two days. “We received around 30,000 calls and WhatsApp messages,” said a police spokesperson. The Control room was set up on Sunday. He said 20,546 calls were received on three dedicated phone numbers in the control room while 9,454 WhatsApp messages and pictures were received. A team of officers has been dedicated to keep a check on the helpline numbers which provide information to the callers and also receive calls meant for getting help, he said. The spokesman said most of the callers sought information about the water levels in River Jhelum and about waterlogging in many areas of the city.
Although the weather has been cloudy, there has been no fresh rain over the past 24 hours, which has eased the flood concerns in the city. The weatherman has forecast light to moderate rains later in the day and on Wednesday.
“Light to moderate rain is expected in Kashmir over the next 24 hours,” a MET department spokesman said.
However, the Centre said the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir so far is not as grave as last year but authorities are alert to deal with it.
“The situation is not as grave as last time. But we are fully alert and if required we will send more assistance,” said Home Minister Rajnath Singh at Bagdogra in West Bengal.
A senior police official said that six bodies were recovered from the debris in Laden village in Budgam district, taking the toll to 16 in the state. One person trapped in the landslide in feared dead.
Four houses had collapsed due to the caving in of earth in Budgam on Monday, trapping two families.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had on Monday said there was an “unfortunate” death in Udhampur and there have been some flash flood in Jammu as well.
The process of evacuating the affected is underway as eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to Kashmir.
While two teams have taken position in Srinagar, under Anantnag and Humhama police station areas, three other teams were airlifted on Tuesday from various locations to the summer capital of the state which is on alert due to the situation in the aftermath of heavy rains.
“As on date, a total of eight fully equipped search and rescue teams of NDRF shall be available for any response in case of floods in the Kashmir Valley,” stated an NDRF statement.
Armed forces, along with four helicopters, have been placed in readiness for deployment at short notice after local authorities had declared a flood situation in the Valley.
Heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday led to a sudden surge in the water level of the Jhelum and its tributaries, causing panic among the residents about the possibility of fresh floods.
Schools and colleges have been closed across the Valley in view of flood threat, while examinations have been postponed.
However, the University of Kashmir will hold examinations as per schedule from Wednesday in view of the improving situation, a university official said.
The situation had its echo in the Assembly with members of opposition National Conference and Congress staging a walkout, accusing the government of “undue delay” in rescue operations.
Two members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — Mushtaq Ahmed Shah and Zahoor Mir — also staged a walkout, protesting the non-availability of dewatering pumps in their constituencies.
The Central government had on Monday granted Rs 200 crore as immediate relief as Prime Minister Narendra Modi rushed minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to Kashmir for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and to coordinate with state authorities with regard to the requirements.
In September last year, over 280 people had died and tens of thousands were left homeless when unprecedented floods hit the state.
Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens partially
The strategic Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was opened for one-way traffic on Tuesday as improved weather and receding water level in major rivers lessened the danger of damage by floods in the state. “The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been opened for one-way traffic today,” said a senior police officer on Tuesday.
“However, only light vehicles will be allowed to move on the highway from Jammu to Srinagar.” Over 2,000 Valley-bound passengers are stranded in Jammu for the past three days because of the highway’s closure. Authorities said on Monday if the highway could not be reopened on Tuesday, the Air Force would be approached for arranging special sorties to airlift people stranded between Srinagar and Jammu. More than 800 people from various areas have been rescued and shifted to safer places by the army and the civil administration in the state so far.
Control room gets 30,000 calls, SMSes
The Special Control Room, set up by the J&K Police to help people, has received around 30,000 calls and messages in two days. “We received around 30,000 calls and WhatsApp messages,” said a police spokesperson. The Control room was set up on Sunday. He said 20,546 calls were received on three dedicated phone numbers in the control room while 9,454 WhatsApp messages and pictures were received. A team of officers has been dedicated to keep a check on the helpline numbers which provide information to the callers and also receive calls meant for getting help, he said. The spokesman said most of the callers sought information about the water levels in River Jhelum and about waterlogging in many areas of the city.