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| DAY 20: Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh turn into permanent river! | | Water maintains level, pumps fail; many houses at verge of collapse, residents try to pull out valuables | | Fazal Khan
SRINAGAR, Sept 27: As the flood waters refused to recede in Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar areas on the 20th running day today, speculations and rumours about these areas being turned into a permanent river triggered panic across the city.
Residents of Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar, who have been sitting helplessly at the adjacent bund for the past 20-days to return to their homes, are a worried lot. Fear is writ on their faces and they have almost lost hope about retrieving any valuables from their submerged homes. "We are being told that Jhelum used to flow through Jawahar Nagar and Rajbagh areas hundred years ago. After one century river has taken its natural course."
They said, despite water pumps pulling out the stagnated water levels are not receding. "It seems water is emanating from beneath the ground due to which its maintaining its level," worried residents told Early Times.
A few people on Friday had mustered courage and walked through the dirty waters full of slush and mud to reach their homes and to make an attempt to see whether they can pull out anything from their shattered homes. "All our furnishing and electronic items have been destroyed. If water stays for a few more days our houses will collapse like a pack of cards," said Babi Singh of Jawahar Nagar.
He said, "I somehow managed to reach my home but I was shocked to see that three houses in our lane have collapsed and it seems many houses are at the verge of falling down."
Singh said that two cars which were parked in his compound have been buried under the debris of the adjacent house which has fall on the vehicles. "People are saying that our area has been turned into a permanent river and water will stay there forever," he added.
Another resident Ghulam Nabi said that people should pull out whatever is left as there is every possibility of houses being raised to rubble. "We cannot visit our homes in absence of the boats. Government's failure to provide us with the boats has added to our miseries," he added.
People who were sitting at the bund were discussing if their areas turn into a permanent river what would they do." Jawahar Nagar was turned into a residential colony in 1950s by then Chief Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. No doubt it was a low lying area but I don't remember whether river Jehlum used to flow through Jawahar Nagar and Rajbagh," said septuagenarian, Ghulam Ahmed.
He said 10-marla plots in Jawahar Nagar and adjoining Rajbagh areas were given to the people for Rs 500. "Since then both the areas have witnessed tremendous development," Ahmed added.
Experts said that people in these areas whose houses are intact would have suffered losses in crores as they would have to change the furniture and other fixtures and electric wires and switches. "Twenty days is a long time for wood and other items including furnishing to remain in water. I believe residents of these areas have lost everything," said a professor from University of Kashmir.
A top official while pleading anonymity said, "We have pressed heavy duty pumps into service to drain out the water. We too are surprised about water maintaining its level. We hope we will be able to clear these areas in three to four days," he added.
A few residents were of the opinion that flash floods may have led to formation of springs in the area. "If that's the case then Allah only can help us," they added.
Pertinently, Jawahar Nagar and Rajbagh were the worst hit areas due to floods. There was around 20 to 24 feet water in these localities. Many houses have collapsed and nearly 30 bodies have been recovered till date. People fear many more bodies are still lying under the debris. |
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