New Delhi: Heavy rain and untimely snowfall triggered a flood-like situation in Jammu and Kashmir after a rise in the water level of River Jhelum and its tributaries.
According to the reports, the flood control department has issued an alert to all its staff asking them to be present at their places of posting round the clock so that the water level in local rivers, lakes and streams can be continuously checked.
Leading news agency PTI quoted officials as saying Jhelum has crossed the ‘alarm level’ of 18 feet at Sangam in Anantnag district. “We have issued the advisory after the water level in River Jhelum crossed the 18 feet mark at Sangam,” a senior official of the Irrigation and Flood Control department told the news agency.
“Teams have been rushed to these areas to organise relief and rescue,” police said. “There would be gradual decrease in snow and rainfall activity from Thursday afternoon and improvement in weather will start from tomorrow (Friday),” Sanam Lotus, Director of the J&K Met department told IANS on phone from Delhi.
He also asked people to not create panic. However, he admitted that people living in low-lying areas might face inconveniences due to water logging and problems allied with it. Met office had issued an adverse weather advisory which ends Thursday evening.
IANS/PTI