Fear grows in Bandipora after Jhelum embankment breach

April 30, 2025 by News Desk

In a remote village of Bandipora district, growing anxiety grips the residents after a section of the Jhelum River embankment gave way under days of relentless rainfall, raising the specter of devastating floods.

The river, swollen by continuous downpours, eroded a significant stretch of the earthen barrier that shields the settlement’s homes, fields, and orchards. Many villagers now fear that if water levels surge again, the breach could widen, unleashing disaster on the community.

“The river’s pressure has loosened the soil and eaten into the embankment. It’s now a ticking time bomb,” said an elderly farmer from the area. “We appeal to the authorities to move swiftly. Our families are vulnerable.”

Agriculture and fruit cultivation form the backbone of the local economy, and any flooding could wipe out an entire season’s hard work. Villagers expressed frustration over what they describe as official indifference to their repeated pleas for immediate reinforcement work.

A local resident recalled that construction materials were brought to the site days ago, raising hopes that repairs would begin. But since then, he said, nothing has been done.

“If there’s another spell of rain and the river swells again, it won’t take much for the water to rip through,” he warned, adding that dozens of surrounding villages could face catastrophic losses if action is delayed.

“We are staring at a possible disaster,” he said. “Without urgent repairs, we could lose not just our crops but our homes as well.”

The villagers say time is running out—and unless the embankment is fortified quickly, the damage could be irreversible.