Residents Recall Anxious Memories Of 2014 Floods As Incessant Rainfall Swells Up Rivers, Tributaries In J&K

With heavy rains in the valley for over one week has brought back the dreadful memories of September 2014¡¯s devastating floods with the residents fearing if the same was going to be repeated.

Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Bemina area of Srinagar recalled that it was all water around. ¡°No one was visible on the ground and everything was completely in deep waters. Since there was no help, I had to walk in the water to run away to save myself and my family,¡± he said.

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Abdul Rasheed, a resident of Raj Bagh area of the city which was the worst hit area during floods said, ¡°My two-storey house was completely inside the water. Now, whenever it rains for a long time and water starts rising in the rivers, we fear for our lives and think the same situation may arrive again,¡± he said.

¡°In case there is a flood threat this time, we request the government to inform us in advance so that we can shift ourselves and our belongings to safer places,¡± Shahid Ahmad, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, told Indiatimes.

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Water level in all the major and minor rivers and tributaries in Jammu and Kashmir rose sharply on Wednesday due to incessant rainfall during the last 48 hours as authorities closed schools in six districts to avoid any mishap, IANS reported.

Water level in the Tawi River in Jammu division, Jhelum, Sindh stream, Lidder, Doodhganga, Rambiyari, Vishow, Sukhna, Ferozepora and Pohru streams in Kashmir rose sharply during the last 24 hours as the authorities set up helplines for the general public.

Facing an unprecedented dry spell during the last three months, rain was welcomed by the people in the valley till it started threatening areas with flash floods and inundation.

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Low-lying areas in Srinagar city are already facing waterlogging while sloppy mountainsides in the rest of the valley are threatened by flash floods, mudslides, etc.

Both Srinagar-Jammu and the Mughal Road that connect Kashmir with the Jammu division are closed due to landslides and shooting stones.

The Meteorological (MeT) department has forecast a decrease in rainfall intensity as the day progresses.

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¡°Significant improvement from today¡¯s forenoon. From June 23rd onwards, there is no forecast of any major rainfall till next one week.

¡°Due to continuous rain since the last few days, landslide, flash floods have occurred at many vulnerable places, mainly in hilly areas. People are once again advised to travel on Srinagar-Jammu, Mughal Road, etc.¡±