River Jhelum reached the flood-danger mark of 21-ft near Sangam in south Kashmir at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The rise in water level continued elsewhere also with Jhelum level nearing flood alarm mark in Srinagar. The water level in Wullar Lake was 1575.91m, increased by 0.4 notches in last 2 hours, against flood deceleration mark of 1578 at 2:00 p.m.
An official of Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir told GNS that river Jhelum was flowing at 21-ft, the level when flood is declared at Sangam.
The river was flowing at 15.47-ft at Ram Munshibagh, 1.43-ft below the alarm level of 16-ft and 2.43-ft below flood level of 18-ft.
Subsequently, the downstream gauge at Ram Munshibagh is expected to rise, he added.
At Asham in Bandipora district, the official said, the Jhelum level was at 7.76-ft against 14-ft mark when flood is sounded in north Kashmir.
“The habitation residing along the River Jhelum in South and Central Kashmir are requested to remain vigilant,” he said.
While Jhelum was flowing at its lowest ebb in several years until recently, rains from last few days brought about considerable rise in the water level.
Regarding some tributaries, the official said, the water level in Vishow Nallah at Khudwani receded from 10.7m at noon to 9.92m at 2 p.m which is still 9.92-ft above the danger mark. Nallah Lidder near Batkoot was flowing at 1.20m against 1.21m at noon, Doodhganga Nallah at Barzulla was flowing at 3.8m against dangerous mark of 3.65m, Sindh Nallah at Doderhama was flowing 3.30 m against 3.36m at noon which was above mark of 3.5m when alarm is sounded there and 3.65m (when flood is declared); Sukhnag Nallah at Arizal was flowing at 0.52m (receding) against 1.3 (flood alarm) and 1.8m(flood), Ferozpora Nallah at Drung in Tangmarg was 1.36m (receding) against (1.85m when flood alarm is sounded)/2.0m (when flood is declared) while Pohru Nallah at Seelu was at 3.52m (rising) against 4.2m (flood alarm) and 4.6m (when is flood declared).
The weatherman has forecast improvement in the weather and it was unlikely that flood is ultimately declared at all places even though water level in Srinagar and north Kashmir may increase in next few hours due to downward flow, an expert said. (GNS)