Rise in water level cause of concern, no immediate threat of flood.

PS BALI

Jammu 

Due to the incessant rains in the upper region of Jammu the water level in the river Chenab has increased but there is no immediate threat of flood, official sources said today.

Sources said that water level in river Chenab has increased due to continuous rains for the past several days in the upper parts, but has not touched the mark of danger yet.

However, they said the water level is still several feet below the danger mark. State Flood Control department, which is continuously monitoring the flow of water, has announced no threat of flood till now.

“The current mark of water level on the metering Gauze is 28.1 ft which is far below the danger mark of 32- 35 fts, so there is no need of announcing flood intimidation,” said Flood Control official wishing anonymity.

He further said that they are keeping continue vigil of the water level, “We don’t want to create panic among locals of low lying areas by proclaiming precarious flood threat,” said he.

The flood control department is waiting for the appropriate time for the sounding of flood threats.

“The flood threat would be announced when the water level touches the mark of 32, and it would be sounded high alert when it reaches 35 fts. At present the fall in water level is expected as the level is already dropped from 30 to 28 fts,” said official.

The official also said that when water level touches the mark of 31 ft, they will declare the alert in the low lying areas of Pragwal, Jourian and Khour.

Which is presently uncertain and it is not the right time to announce flood alert as everything is going good and the mark of flood like situation is far away, we don’t want to create panic among masses, said official.

Though, there was no immediate threat of flood, but the divisional administration has geared up its machinery to meet any challenge.

“Yet we haven’t received any information regarding alarming flood like situation in any part of Jammu but keeping monsoon in consideration, we are all ready with machinery and man power to fight the crisis and to lessen the causality,” said DC, Jammu, M K Dwevedi.

He said that the administration is continuing monitoring the situation of the water level. “we are ready with contingency, all the control rooms are active and rescue boats, choppers and other live saving tools are ready fro any such crisis,” said he.

Last time the heavy flood was witnessed in 1992 when the water level crossed the mark of 36 fts, killing 220 people, destroying houses, agricultural land and disrupting road traffic.

“The flash flood of 1992 caused huge devastation in Jammu particularly in the low lying areas, the bridge at Akhnoor was also washed away during that flood,” said official, adding, the water level is fluctuating up and down, but precautionary measures have already been taken.