PDP slams J&K govt for keeping Flood Control Chief Engineer post vacant

Srinagar, Aug 26: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government for failing to appoint a full-fledged Chief Engineer for the Flood Control Department, terming the recent review meetings on flood preparedness as “mere optics.”

In a post on X, a PDP spokesperson said:
“J&K Govt is busy with back-to-back flood review meetings for optics — but why hasn’t a Chief Engineer, Flood Control Kashmir, been appointed yet? With a crisis at hand and looming flood challenges, the very officer responsible for management is missing. @OmarAbdullah FYI @OfficeOfLGJandK”

The reaction came shortly after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a flood review meeting.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued advisories urging people to stay away from water bodies and landslide-prone areas as the Meteorological Department has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in many districts of Jammu region, including Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, with the possibility of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in higher reaches till August 27.

Officials said the Tawi river has crossed the 20-foot danger mark in Udhampur, while in downstream Jammu it is currently flowing below the alert level. The Chenab is also flowing close to the warning mark. In Samba, the Basanter river crossed the danger mark of 4.5 feet on Monday morning.

According to the Meteorological Department, Kathua district recorded the highest 155.6 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours ending at 8:30 am, followed by Bhaderwah in Doda with 99.8 mm, Jammu with 81.5 mm, and Katra with 68.8 mm.