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| Flood hit people fear even slight rainfall can lead to another catastrophe | | Breaches along Jhelum stare at Govt's face | |
Fazal Khan
Srinagar, Oct 5: The breaches across Jhelum and other spill channels through which waters seeped into villages and cities from south to central Kashmir are staring at the face of the state government as authorities have not filled in these breaches till date.
Soon after the water level increased in Jhelum in the first week of September due to incessant rainfall government was caught napping as it had not even imagined that situation would take such an ugly turn and Kashmir would witness the worst floods of the century. On September 7 when Jhelum was roaring authorities decided to cut the Kandizal in south Kashmir hoping that water would get absorbed in low lying areas of Soiteng, Lasjan and Mehjoor Nagar. However, Jhelum had other plans and within a few hours it submerged the entire Srinagar. It breached its embankments and devastated the city. The roaring Jhelum washed off whatever came in its way. Even the Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday in his recent press conference acknowledged that government had not even imagined that Srinagar would sink.
As on date water levels have receded and stagnated water has been drained out from most of the areas barring a few. In the process of draining out water from the low lying areas authorities at many places had breached the bunds to pave the way for water to leave.
These breaches are staring at the government's face. People fear if fresh rainfall occurs it can lead to water again seeping into the flood hit areas.
An official of the Meteorological Department while talking to Early Times said that there is possibility of moderate to light rainfall on 7th and 8th October. "As such there is no possibility of heavy rain but precaution is better than cure," he added.
Sources said that government is busy with other jobs like assessing the losses and working out a rehabilitation plan. "Till now the priority of the government has been to drain out the water from submerged areas not much heed has been paid towards filing in the breaches through which water seeped in," said a source.
He said officials are of the opinion that "worst is over" and now nothing much would happen. However, people fear that winters are approaching and if breaches are not taken care off another catastrophe striking Kashmir cannot be ruled out. "Even a little rainfall leads to the streets getting inundated and water overflowing from the drains. If these breaches remain open melting of snow or an cloud burst can create havoc across the Valley," said Feroz Ahmed of Jawahar Nagar.
"Somehow water has been drained out from our houses. We have no idea when we will be able to re-enter our places as there is muck all around. Rubble of the collapsed houses has turned the entire area into a ghost land," Ahmed added.
Locals said that till breaches are not filled the "sense of insecurity" would continue to prevail. "We hope that government takes precautions and prevents another catastrophe as Autumn has already set in. Rain and snowfall can hit the region without any prior notice," locals added. |
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