Situation under control, no need to panic: Officials
PAMPORE: Water from Jhelum, through a drainage pipe sluice, entered several kanals of land and premises of a few residential houses at Kanqahbagh area of Saffron Town Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday morning.
The incessant rainfall has led to water-logging in the residential area of Naaz Colony Sempora, Panthachowk area of Srinagar outskirts. Water entered several houses, affecting the normal life of residents.
Due to continuous rains, the water level was significantly raised in river Jhelum, which entered Khanqahbagh Pampore through the outlet pipe, which caused an atmosphere of fear in the area.
Immediately after the water entered the area, Incharge flood sector Nazir Ahmad, AEE Faisal Farooq flood control department visited the place and reviewed the situation there. He immediately arranged water drainage.
Jhelum water entered the area through the drainage pipe sluice many times in the past, a local Zahoor Ahmad told Kashmir Reader.
Another local, Farooq Ahmad Mir, said that water again entered through the drain pipe and inundated a big chunk of the agricultural land.
“Premises of many residential houses in Khankahbagh were also inundated,” he said, adding that there is some technical fault in the drainage pipe due to which water from Jhelum enters their colony and the agricultural land frequently with a slight rise in its level.
The residents demanded rectifying the technical fault in the pipe sluice so that they face this situation in the future.
However, the concerned Zonal Committee swung into action swiftly and started dewatering operations which were in progress when this report was filed.
Sectoral Officer Flood, Nazir Ahmad Bhat, appealed to people to stay calm. He said the zonal committee is monitoring the situation.
“The water level has increased due to continuous rains, but there is no need for people to panic,” he said. He appealed to the people to stay away from the river Jhelum and other water flow areas. The situation is under control, he added.
Talking to Kashmir Reader, Assistant Executive Engineer Flood Control, Pampore, Faisal Farooq, said that due to improvement in weather water level in Jhelum is receding in south Kashmir. “By today night, we hope that water level will normalise in the Pampore stretch of Jhelum subject to fair weather,” he said and appealed to people to be cautious and not panic.
Officials further informed that they will inspect the drainage pipe sluice to address the issue.
Meanwhile, Jhelum water also entered the Naaz Colony Sempora area of Srinagar after leaking through the irrigation pipe in the area. The water entered many residential houses which has caused inconvenience to the people in moving in and out of their houses.
The residents are facing a tough time as septic tanks of bathrooms have become full of water and disrupted the smooth functioning of the bathrooms, locals said. They demanded operationalising the dewatering station under construction in the area.