Flood fears end in Kashmir

The fear about floods in Kashmir as witnessed in last September ended today with the state government declaring that there is no threat now and tourists should visit the Valley.
Water level in the river Jhelum was much below the danger mark despite overnight rainfall. It was flowing at 14.10 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir, nearly nine feet below the danger mark, while the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city was 15.25 feet, an official of the Flood Control Department said.
The rainfall overnight had resulted in the rise in water level in Jhelum but there was no immediate threat of floods, he said.

"The weather has improved since late last night and if it holds like this, the worst phase might already be over," the official said. He, however, said moderate rainfall was forecast for tomorrow at many places in the Valley but it should not lead to a flood situation.
Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar told reporters here that the worst phase of inclement weather was over.
"There is no flood. There was some panic among the people because of the last year's situation. But right now all the rivers are running much below the danger-level and there is normal activity across the state."

The weather forecast for tomorrow onwards is quite normal, he said, adding "the worst phase has passed."

While allaying the fears about flood, Akhtar invited people from across the country and the world to visit Kashmir Valley, saying it would be much greener and better this year.
"Our Tulip Garden will be thrown open tomorrow and there will be blossoms everywhere, and through you, I invite everybody in the rest of the country and the world to visit Kashmir, which, because of the rains, will be a much greener place and a much better place to come to," he said.

Kashmir, which saw unprecedented deluge in September last year, was in the grip of fear after water level rose above the danger mark in Jhelum on Monday and several low-lying areas got flooded after a few days of rainfall.
The Centre and the state government swung into action and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was pressed into service to evacuate the affected people and army was put on standby. Hundreds of people were shifted to safer places in the Valley where 16 people were killed after four houses collapsed in a village.