Residents cut embankments to accelerate dewatering

As dewatering pumps have failed to accelerate the reduction of flood water level, residents of Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar - the worst hit areas by floods in Kashmir - today resorted to cutting the embankments at several places to force the water into adjoining flood channel.
The banks were cut at Jawahar Nagar, Padshahi Bagh and Kursu for speedy draining out of the water which is still at five feet from ground level.
"For three days, the water pumps have managed to reduce the water level by just few inches. So, we checked the water level on both sides and found that cutting the banks could result in faster dewatering," Abdul Rehman, a resident of Jawahar Nagar, told PTI.

He said since 6 pm yesterday, water level has reduced by more than 18 inches.
"With two more breaches made in the banks at Padshahi Bagh and Kursu, we are hopeful that most of the water will be drained out in two to three days," he added.
Authorities on Monday launched a massive dewatering operation in flood-hit areas of the city, including Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar by pressing into service nearly 30 water pumps, including two heavy duty pumps provided by ONGC.
Local residents are anxiously watching the water level in the area and are hopeful that the weather will hold up over the next few days so as to augment the dewatering efforts.