Asks officials to plug in breaches without delay
Srinagar, Sep 5: Stating that the next 72 hours are crucial, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday directed officials to maintain strict vigil and plug in the breaches along the river Jhelum and other streams across Kashmir.
The Chief Minister while chairing a meeting for the third consecutive day here to assess the flood situation in Kashmir directed the officials not to lower the guard till the situation becomes completely normal.
Pertinently, the incessant rains created a flood-like situation at multiple places in the Valley with many areas getting submerged amidst the rise in the water levels in river Jhelum and other tributaries.
The Jhelum was flowing above flood declaration mark till this evening at Pampore and Ram Munshi Bagh stations.
The Chief Minister stated that the next 72 hours are crucial. He asked the officials to maintain strict vigil and ensure that the breaches are plugged in without any delay.
He also stated that while the water has started receding, they cannot afford any complacency.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir briefed the meeting on the water levels at Sangam, Ram Munshi Bagh, and Asham, confirming that the Jhelum has receded below the danger mark. He informed that teams from the Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Department, police, and other agencies are patrolling vulnerable embankments and reinforcing them with sandbags. Inundated villages in Shalina are witnessing receding waters, and relief measures are underway for displaced families.
On restoration efforts, the meeting was informed that water supply schemes are functioning with only minor disruptions, while power, telecom, and health services remain largely unaffected. Essential supplies are being routed through the Mughal Road, which has temporarily become the valley’s lifeline. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) is expected to reopen tomorrow, with fruit-laden trucks currently being cleared in a phased manner via Mughal Road.
Deputy Commissioners of all districts also shared ground reports, confirming receding water levels in the Jhelum’s tributaries, including Lidder, Vaishow, Sandran, and Rambi Ara.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed immediate reinforcement of embankments, evacuation from inundated areas, and round-the-clock monitoring through control rooms. He emphasized frequent field visits, timely advisories urging people to remain alert and avoid panic, and full public cooperation with the administration.
The Chief Minister further instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted arrangements for evacuees, maintain close coordination with police to uphold order, and counter rumour-mongering to prevent panic. He stressed the swift restoration of essential services such as electricity, water supply, and road connectivity, alongside a realistic damage assessment to guide relief and compensation measures.
“Deputy Commissioners must conduct realistic assessments of the damage caused to property, agricultural lands, and infrastructure. These findings will form the basis for projecting requirements to the Government of India,” he said.
To support immediate relief operations, the Chief Minister announced the release of ₹5 crore from the UT CapEx budget, in addition to funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He also asked Deputy Commissioners and Agriculture Department officials to assess damage to standing crops across both provinces. Highlighting the strategic importance of the Mughal Road amid the NH-44 blockade, he directed the Health Department to remain vigilant against potential water-borne and post-flood diseases.
Reiterating his government’s commitment, Omar Abdullah assured that safety, timely relief, and early restoration of normalcy in flood-affected areas remain top priorities. Notably, this was the third meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in the last three days to review the flood situation with a focus on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation.
323 houses damaged, 88 families shifted in Mahore
Jammu Tawi, Sept 5: SDM Mahore, Shafqat Majeed Bhat, informed Excelsior that a total of 323 houses have been fully or partially damaged in Sub Division Mahore due to the incessant rainfall over the past few days.
He said that 88 families have been shifted to safer locations till date. Among them, 59 families in Jamslan and 29 families in Sarh were relocated to Panchayat Ghars and other safe shelters.
The SDM further stated that all necessary arrangements including medical facilities, food and other essentials have been ensured for the affected families.
