The flood threat in Kashmir eased on Thursday as overnight rainfall, which had led to slight rise in water level of river Jhelum, stopped.
Jhelum 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.
Yesterday’s rainfall had resulted in an increase in the water level of Jhelum but there was no immediate threat of floods, he said.
“The weather has improved since Wednesday 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 Friday at many places in the Valley but it should not lead to a flood situation.
Even as the weather has improved, authorities here are taking no chances and they have put in place measures to deal with any eventuality.
“All the contingency plans are in place... temporary shelters have been set up for people evacuated from flood prone areas,” an official of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said. He said NDRF and SDRF teams have been put on a stand by.
An army official said they also put several measures in place to help the people in affected areas of the Valley in dealing with the situation obtaining due to heavy rains.
He said three composite rescue groups constituting of Infantry, Engineers, EME and Army Medical Corps have been set up at Badamibagh Cantonment, Old Airfield and Zainakot.
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