Overflowing Jhelum submerges several areas in Srinagar
Srinagar, Sep 4: The overflowing river Jhelum on Thursday breached embankments, submerging various areas of Srinagar, forcing people to move to safer places.
The worst-hit zone was Shalina area on Srinagar outskirts of Srinagar, where large residential neighbourhoods were inundated, prompting families to leave their homes. There was a flood-like situation after overspills triggered panic in uptown Srinagar, areas like Lasjan and HMT
“We are living under constant fear. Every hour, the water seems to rise, and many of us have already evacuated to safer places,” said Abid Ahmed, a resident of Lasjan.
In the city centre, floodwaters entered low-lying areas of Rajbagh and Kursoo, sparking fear of a repeat of the devastating 2014 floods. Across Srinagar, teams of SDRF, police, and river police were seen engaged in rescue operations since Wednesday.
“The scare is still here despite no rain today. Water is slowly entering houses here, and unless authorities regulate the flow, we may be left helpless,” said a Rajbagh local.
The flood situation also took a heavy toll on business. At Goni Khan Market, one of Srinagar’s busiest shopping hubs, floodwater gushed inside shops, leaving the marketplace deserted.
“We had to shift our goods overnight to safer places. The entire market is in shambles, customers have vanished,” said a shopkeeper at Goni Khan.
Elsewhere, Sonwar roads remained waterlogged, with commuters struggling to navigate submerged stretches.
Meanwhile, rescue teams intensified operations in severely affected localities, moving around 200 families and individuals to safer zones. These included 24 families and houseboat dwellers from Peerzo Island and Basant Bagh, evacuated after water levels rose alarmingly.
“Our teams, assisted by river police, are working round the clock to ensure no lives are lost. Evacuation from critical areas has been prioritised,” said an SDRF official.
Amid the chaos, residents were seen parking their vehicles on flyovers and bridges to protect them from floodwaters. “The flyover has become our only safe parking lot. We don’t know how long we can keep them safe here,” said a commuter at the Jahangir Chowk flyover.
The situation was compounded by a drinking water crisis in several city areas, including Downtown, Lal Chowk, and Rajbagh, as supply was disrupted due to rising turbidity.
“We have been without drinking water for two days now. There are floods outside, no water inside and it feels like the city is crumbling,” said a local from Rajbagh.
A PHE official said water was being supplied in limited shifts. “Due to high turbidity, we cannot run the system continuously. We are supplying water in shifts to prevent the entire network from collapsing,” the official explained.
