30% of Srinagar at risk of flooding, warns Government’s Climate Action Plan

Srinagar, Aug 26: Srinagar faces acute flood risk, with major residential areas, commercial hubs, and tourist hotspots falling in vulnerable zones that could go underwater during heavy rain and river overflow, according to the J&K Government’s Climate Resilient City Action Plan.

The findings revive fears of a repeat of the catastrophic September 2014 deluge.

The Climate Resilient City Action Plan 2023 notes, “Srinagar is prone to high flooding due to the combined effect of torrential rain and topographical changes induced due to weakly-regulated urbanisation.”

“The combined flood scenario for a 1-in-100-year return period is a combination of pluvial and fluvial flood assessment, where 74.05 sq km (30.18 percent) of municipal areas are likely to be impacted by flooding with water depth ranging from 0.66 m to 2.15 m. Flooding inundates the entire city, particularly the wards in low-lying areas spread across the flood channels,” the government’s Climate Action Plan says.

Wards 62, 63, and 64 – covering Sharifabad, Zainakote, Goripora, Tengpora, Shalteng, and Lawaypora – have been singled out to be the worst hit.

The report says, “These areas get submerged in water, making it difficult for residents to move around and interfere with their daily lives. People in these areas sell or rent their property for commercial or other purposes in order to avoid the problem of flooding and relocate to other areas or districts within the state. These areas constitute 15 percent of the total area that is affected by flooding every year.”

Neighbourhoods close to the Jhelum - Zonimar, Shunglipora, Zadibal, Noorbagh, Parimpora, Wazir Bagh, and Rajbagh in wards 13 to 28 have been identified as highly vulnerable.

The plan says, “These areas are always on high alert during heavy rains and account for 9.2 percent of the area to devastating floods almost every year. During the 2014 floods, these were the hardest hit areas where water remained in the establishment for over a month.”

In the northern side of the city, localities like Zakura, Gulab Bagh, Tailbal, Umer Colony, Soura, Anchar, and Bagwanpora in wards 47 to 58 “could be the hardest hit by flooding, accounting for 14.2 percent of the area inundated, with ward 57 having the highest flood depth.”

The report also underlines the impact on Srinagar’s economic and tourist lifelines.

“The CBD and other business and tourist hotspots, such as Lal Chowk, Karan Nagar, Chattabal, Bemina, Dalgate, Sonwar, Indira Nagar, and Shivpora in wards 31 to 47 and wards 2, 3, 18, 37, and 59 are inundated by flooding because some of these areas are built on flood channels near Jhelum River and Dal Lake, causing inconvenience for daily commuters, particularly during the peak tourism season,” it says.

Flash floods in the Jhelum River have been flagged as the gravest concern.

“Flash floods in the Jhelum River is a matter of great concern in Srinagar city, particularly during the monsoon season. Jhelum River flows through the heart of Srinagar, and the city is vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall. In September 2014, the city experienced severe flash floods due to the overflowing of the Jhelum River, which caused widespread devastation in the region. Floodwaters damaged homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands, leading to the loss of life and property,” the government’s Climate Action Plan says.

The report points to another chronic crisis.

“Locals complain that Srinagar’s drainage system has become so clogged with silt over the years that a few hours of rain or snowfall turns the capital city’s roads into rivulets. Most drains in the city have not been desilted for years, reducing their carrying capacity significantly. Following the devastating floods of 2014, the already inadequate drainage system was aggravated by additional silt accumulation brought on by the deluge, resulting in frequent waterlogging in the city,” it says.

The report says that this waterlogging hampers economic activity.

“Shopkeepers from various markets complain that waterlogging hampers their daily operations, while others claim that water enters their stores. Waterlogging also affects the businesses of street vendors in the city centre, who struggle to find a place for putting up their stalls as a result of flooding,” it says.