Jhelum water level recedes in Kashmir

The residents of Kashmir valley on Friday heaved a sigh of relief as the water level in the Jhelum river began receding.

"Though the flood concerns have now been eased, the Jhelum continues to flow above the danger mark in the south and central parts of the valley," Irrigation and Flood Control Department Chief Engineer Javed Jaffar told IANS.

"The water level at Sangam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district has receded to 23.80ft (60.45 m) at 11.00 a.m. as against the level of 27.50ft on Thursday. The danger mark at Sangam is 23ft," Jaffar said.

At Ram Munshi Bagh in the city, the Jhelum was flowing at 21.20ft against the peak of 21.65ft in the wee hours of Friday, he added.

The water level in the Jhelum and its tributaries rose sharply following heavy rainfall on Wednesday, which had prompted authorities to issue a flood alert for south and central Kashmir.

Several areas in Anantnag district, including Nai Basti, Takia Behrampora, Shamsipora and Hassanpora, were inundated by the overflowing Jhelum and its tributaries.

Several areas of Kulgam district, including Qaimoh, Mir Bazar, Asthal and Devsar, were affected by the swollen waters of the Vaishnav stream.

Several bridges and roads have been washed away in south Kashmir with the Tral area in Pulwama district bearing the brunt of the flash floods.

Minor breaches were reported in the embankments of water bodies at some places but these were plugged by officials of the Flood Control Department on a war-footing.