Srinagar, Apr 30: Even as rain has stopped in Kashmir, the water level in the Jhelum crossed the “flood declaration” mark in Srinagar on Tuesday morning.
The rains stopped across the valley at around midnight.
According to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the water level of the Jhelum touched the 18-foot mark , the designated level for announcing a flood alert, at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar this morning at around 8 am. The water level of the Jhelum also crossed the flood mark at Pampore in Pulwama district.
“Fortunately the water level at Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag has started receding and we are expecting the water level to recede in next few hours,” they said, adding that they are maintaining a high alert to keep an eye on the situation across the valley.
The authorities have advised residents of the low-lying areas and along the embankments of the river and streams in central Kashmir to be vigilant.
Due to heavy rains in the past three days several low-lying residential localities were inundated in Kashmir. The schools have been shut across Kashmir on Tuesday due to the bad weather.
The crucial highways Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh Road and Mughal road connecting Kashmir to Poonch are closed due to landslides occurring at multiple points along the routes. The border district of Kupwara was cut off from the rest of the valley for the second day due to flood waters inundating roads.
The forecast issued by the Meteorological Department suggested that light rainfall with thunder was likely at fewer places in the region on Tuesday. The weather is likely to improve from Wednesday.
“From May 1 to 5, we expect generally dry weather with afternoon thundershower activity at a few places,” MeT said.
Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours Srinagar received 23.6 mm of rainfall, the tourist resort of Pahalgam received 40.8 mm, Verinag in south Kashmir 65.6 mm, Nowgam Handwara in north Kashmir 63.4 mm and ski resort of Gulmarg 21 mm.
