Rising water levels in Jhelum, Dal Lake worries inhabitants

Srinagar, April 27: With intermittent rains continuing to lash the summer capital, residents living around river Jhelum and in the interiors of Dal Lake are gripped by constant fear due to rising water level.

Despite the levels in the Jhelum remaining below the danger mark, the wet weather has triggered concerns among locals, especially in low-lying areas.

Residents in areas like Tailbal, Hazratbal, Soiteng, Mehjoor Nagar, Bemina, and other localities have expressed their worries about the absence of proper embankments to protect their homes from potential flooding.

Gulzar Ahmad, a fisherman from Tailbal area of Hazratbal said that, "every time it rains heavily, our entire area gets submerged. We lack robust bunds to shield our homes from inundation. We face immense hardships, but no one seems to listen to our problems."

“After days of hardship, we reach home only to find our houses inundated. Rainfall creates enormous problems for us. We have to shift,” he said.

He added that areas like Tailbal, Asthaan Mohalla, Khushu Pora, and Habbak Shanpora face similar situations whenever it rains heavily.

Residents from other parts of Srinagar echoed the same concerns due to the rising water levels and the lack of adequate protective measures.

"We fear for our homes and our safety. The lack of proper embankments puts us at risk every time it rains," said residents of Bemina. Chief Engineer at the Irrigation & Flood Control Kashmir Naresh Kumar, told Greater Kashmir that they have almost repaired embankments around the Jhelum.

“If people still have complaints, they can visit our department and register these. We will look into the complaints and solve the issues,” he said.

Kumar said that a Flood Control room has been established at Ram Munshi Bagh, which is functional round the clock. "The water level in the Jhelum is somewhat alarming, but this is an intermittent rainfall. Continuous rainfall is a concern," he said.

He also emphasised that before the onset of Western disturbances, like the monsoon or pre-monsoon period, the department identifies weak spots in the embankments and work to fix them over time. The Kashmir region continued to receive rainfalls with the MeT department predicting wet weather in the coming days.

An official from the MeT department said to expect generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain. "Higher reaches could see light snowfall. Be aware of potential thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and gusty winds at some locations until April 28th,” they said.