WORST FLOODS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR IN SIX DECADES

Indian Military Veterans

Army gears up for possible floods in N Kashmir  Wullar Lake swells above danger mark Over 2,000 persons shifted to five schools at Safapora in Ganderbal districtRavi Krishnan Khajuria & Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News Service

Badami Bagh Cantonment (Srinagar), September 11
Gradually shifting gear from rescue to relief operations in south Kashmir, the Army and the Air Force have geared up for possible floods in north Kashmir.

The Jhelum, its tributaries and the Ferozepur Nullah flow via the Wullar Lake in north Kashmir before entering Pakistan. The level of the constantly rising lake was recorded at 53.3 feet at 6 am on Thursday, well above danger mark of 46.2 feet.

“Keeping in view the rising water level in the lake and to deal with the potential crisis, we shifted 2,400 persons to five schools in Safapora. They are being provided food and water,” said Lt Gen Subrata Saha, GOC of the Chinar Corps (15 Corps), on Thursday.

Lt Gen Subrata Saha,GOC of 15 Corps

Lt Gen Saha said, “The water level in other areas close to the Jhelum is receding since this morning. It was 18.5 feet in Sangam. It has come down between eight and nine feet in Srinagar. It has reduced marginally from 18 feet to 17.8 feet in the Sumbal area of north Kashmir.”

He said the Jhelum breached its banks at a number of places, which inundated Srinagar. “The water level in marooned areas is still between 10 and 12 feet,” he said. He said heavy and incessant rain for three consecutive days from September 4 was so intense that the Army could not carry out a single sortie.

Villages like Asthil and Gudda in south Kashmir were inundated. Giving an example of the intensity of rain, he said the reservoir of an under-construction micro-hydel project caved in near Bella Salamabad, close to Rampur in Baramulla.

“The gushing waters washed away one of our posts at Kakapora in Pulwama. Vehicles were swept away. A rescue boat with nine persons on board capsized. Our men tried their best, but could rescue only seven,” said Lt Gen Saha.

He said the 15 Corps brought personnel both from south Kashmir and north Kashmir. He said boats were brought from Jodhpur, Jalandhar and Delhi, among others. He added that the Army, in tandem with the Air Force and state agencies, rescued 44,554 persons in Kashmir till 6 am on Thursday.

“Medical aid was provided to 5,685 patients in the military hospital and medical camps set up at Panzgam, Awantipora, Sambur, Arapal, Sangam, Kelung and Butingu till last evening,” he said.

He said the Army was gradually shifting from rescue to relief operations in south Kashmir. “We have evacuated a majority of people in south Kashmir. Those not willing to leave their houses unattended are being provided relief material like food, water and medicines,” he said.

The Army rescued 26 Pakistani nationals, two women from the USA and New Zealand, around 10 Malaysian trekkers and a teacher and his students from Ladakh, he added. It also rescued 160 sportspersons from Bakshi Stadium, of which 55 were evacuated and the rest being take care of, he said.

He said the Army had lost two men in rescue operations. In response to a query, he said people got anxious in a natural calamity of such magnitude. “They have lost everything. It is a manifestation of their anxiety and worries. Every single person matters to us,” he added.

Army gives details

• The Jhelum, its tributaries and the Ferozepur Nullah flow via the Wullar Lake in north Kashmir before entering Pakistan. The level of Wullar Lake was 53.3 ft at 6 am on Thursday, well above danger mark of 46.2 feet.
• 26 Pak nationals, two women from USA and New Zealand, 10 Malaysian trekkers, teacher and students from Ladakh, 160 sportspersons rescued in south Kashmir