Water Level in Kashmir’s Jhelum crosses danger mark, panic among residents along river banks
Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Aug 27 (KINS): A surge in the water level of river Jhelum above the danger mark triggered panic across Srinagar and adjoining areas on Tuesday night, reviving memories of the catastrophic floods of 2014.
Residents of low-lying localities such as Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Shivpora, Mehjoor Nagar, and Pampore areas said they spent the intervening night of August 26 and 27 in fear, unable to sleep as they monitored the river’s flow.
“The moment we heard that Jhelum had crossed the danger mark, we were terrified. Our family kept checking the water level every hour. The 2014 floods are still fresh in our minds. We feared the same disaster could return,” Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Rajbagh told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS)
Another resident from Mehjoor Nagar said many families shifted their valuables to the upper floors of their houses as a precautionary measure.
“No one in our locality could sleep. Everyone stayed awake, worrying about what might happen if the water breached the embankments,” he said.
Officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department confirmed that the Jhelum water level had risen beyond the danger mark at several monitoring points following continuous rainfall over the past two days. They said all flood control units had been put on alert and sandbagging was initiated at vulnerable spots.
“While the situation is being closely monitored, there is no immediate threat of a large-scale inundation like 2014. However, people in low-lying areas are advised to remain cautious and follow advisories,” the official said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said the administration has also activated emergency control rooms and deployed men and machinery in flood-prone zones. He however said the situation was under control.
The devastating floods of September 2014 had left Srinagar and many parts of Kashmir submerged for weeks, claiming lives, damaging thousands of homes and crippling infrastructure. Among the worst-hit areas then were Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar and Shivpora, where houses remained under water for days.
The haunting memories continue to cast a shadow whenever rainfall causes the Jhelum to swell. “People here are still mentally scarred. Any news of water level crossing danger marks makes us restless. We cannot afford to go through that trauma again,” said Bilal Ahmad from Shivpora.
Locals have urged the government to strengthen embankments and ensure an effective early warning system. “We want timely alerts and clear communication from the authorities. The panic we faced last night shows how unprepared we are to deal with such situations,” a Pampore resident said. (KINS)
