Amanjeet Singh
Srinagar: Meteorological Department has predicted the improvement in weather in Kashmir valley today. However, due to incessant rains from last two days, the authorities have sounded flood alert at many places.
“We expect the weather will gradually improve form today afternoon. And on Thursday we expect the weather will completely improve,” said Sonam Lotus, Director of J&K Meteorological department in Srinagar.
Earlier, heavy downpour has increased water level in the river Jhelum prompting authorities to sound alert asking people to report any breach to the district administration.
However, flood alarm has been announced as water level has crossed the standard of 18 feet at Sangam. Choked drains have inundated major portion of the city due to which the normal life is disrupted.
“The people residing along the embankments of River Jhelum and in Low-lying areas of South and Central Kashmir are advised to remain vigilant”, Flood alert issued by the state’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department said.
In the last 12-hours Jhelum’s water level has increased by over 8 feet at Sangam in South Kashmir, an official informed.
Earlier, authorities announced three-day break in the educational institutes of the Kashmir division and examinations scheduled today have been postponed. The traffic movement on national highway connecting Srinagar with Jammu has also been suspended until the weather improves. The intra city connectivity has also been disrupted due to heavy water logging on roads. The shops and businesses are also shut. In many areas, the water seethed into the residential houses prompting inhabitants to vacate their homes for safer places. The authorities have swung into action and have installed water pumps to dewater the main city. The essential services due to heavy rains have also got badly affected.
