Jammu Kashmir Worst-ever Flood, Warnings ignored - flood was predicted in 2010

Four years ago, the Flood Control Department of Jammu formulated a dire but accurate warning on the state’s summer capital being flooded by an intense spell of rain.

They knew it was coming. They must have, because there were enough warnings, and the clearest came by the truckload.

Four years ago, the Flood Control Department of Jammu formulated a dire but accurate warning on the state’s summer capital being flooded by an intense spell of rain. The report and its copies weighed roughly a tonne, and the heavy-duty consignment was sent to the Union Ministry of Water Resources in a truck.

Nothing of note happened after the delivery - certainly not enough to make any difference to what was inevitably around the corner.
Then there’s a depressingly prescient study of Srinagar’s water bodies that is sitting in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Carried out by GIS Laboratory, Jammu & Kashmir State Remote

Sensing Centre, it says that more than 50 per cent of the water bodies in Srinagar have been lost during the last century.

Scientists Humayun Rashid and Gowhar Naseem used satellite imagery to study the shrinking of lakes between 1911 and 2004.

“The loss in the spatial extent of these lakes and wetlands has affected the micro-climate of  the city besides exposing it to flood threat,” they said.

The Srinagar of old, the two scientists said, had a unique ecological set up with extensive areas under wetlands, lakes and water channels.
“Though siltation brought about in lakes and wetlands especially during floods was natural, yet subsequent encroachment, earth-filling, planting and construction by individuals and converting water channels into roads, presents a living example of how these valuable assets of natural landscape of Srinagar were destroyed,” the report said.

It explained how the micro-climate evolution has been fostered by “undesired land use change”, and pointed to the “acute problem of drainage since these wetlands and lakes acted as sponges during the floods”.

Impact

On Wednesday, as the bold rescue effort led by the armed forces expanded without losing momentum in Jammu and Kashmir and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared he could not “stop rain”, the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment pointed to climate change as a possible villain.

Invoking recent flooding tragedies like Leh in 2010 and Uttarakhand last year, the CSE said that although climate change was a process, the current trend over last 10 years reveals that “it has an impact”.

The Flood Control Department report of 2010 had said that Srinagar was likely to face a major catastrophe in the next five years and that the department had nothing in place to save lives and property.
A flood hitting Srinagar would leave “most parts of the city submerged”, a senior official of the department had told a local daily. The report was uncannily spot-on.

“The Srinagar-Jammu highway may be washed away, leaving the Valley cut off from the rest of the country,” it said, adding that the road “leading to the airport would also be submerged”.

The Flood Control Department was more than just a doomsayer. It formulated a Rs 2,200-crore plan, seeking about a fourth of that immediately to put basic infrastructure in place.

Then prime minister Manmohan Singh had backed the suggested plan, promising priority release of a first installment. Saying four years were needed to put the plan into action, then minister for flood control and irrigation Taj Mohi-ud-Din had gone public with his appeal, telling mediapersons that he had taken up the matter with the Centre because the threat was “too imminent to be ignored”.

Four years have indeed gone by, and Srinagar’s lack of flood-proofing has cost it dear.

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Latest Update on Jammu Kashmir Flood: 14 children found dead in Srinagar hospital, Over 1,10,000 people rescued so far, many still await help

Jammu and Kashmir is battling one of the worst floods in decades with rivers in the region in spate due to days of incessant rain. Over 400 people have died and thousands are stranded across the state, including Srinagar.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for donations. The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday announced a Rs.200 crore assistance package for the flood-affected people in the state. The announcement came after criticism of the state government's response to the disaster and reports that it ignored prior warnings by experts.

Here are the live updates:

10:40 am: Jammu-Srinagar national higway will be opened within 3 to 4 days for light vehicles.

09:55 am: 14 children found dead in Srinagar hospital

As the flood waters receded in Kashmir, authorities on Saturday said that 14 children were found dead at a hospital here. State government officials confirmed 29 deaths have taken place in the Kashmir Vally alone.

Officials on Saturday said 14 children had died in the government-run G.B. Pant Hopsital here. The hospital and other major hospitals in the city, including SMHS and the GMC, were inundated in the floods.

08:52 am: J&K Ministers in Delhi to meet Modi; brief on situation, plea to declare floods as 'national calamity', demand package akin to 2001 Gujarat earthquake.

A five member ministerial delegation from J&K in Delhi to meet PM Narendra Modi. They will apprise him on the flood and relief situation and place requests on liberalising terms and conditions for the flood affected in sectors as housing, insurance etc. The delegation includes all top ministers of Irrigation & flood, fiannce, RD, Planning, Haj.

Ministers will be demanding package on the lines of 2001 Gujarat earthquake to rebuild a 'new Kashmir.'

08:27 am: Clear sky and sunny weather today. Rescue works started early in the morning. Home secretary is monitoring the rescue works. More food items needed such as: sugar, salt, rice, potato etc. Torches and blankets are also needed.

08:26 am: At least 1000 tourists, labourers,locales and women are coming to Jammu via Sinthan Pass in Kishtwar district of Jammu. This is the route via Pahalgam in Kashmir valley to Sinthan Pass to Kishtwar to Doda to Batote to Jammu. This is the long route but since the Jammu-Srinagar national highway will be opened after a week, flood affected people are coming to Jammu via this new route.


Here are some more live updates on the flood situation in the state:

11:59 pm: Valley still cut off due to damage to Jammu national highway, hopeful to restore its damaged part soon. Will reschedule examinations, so students don't suffer. Free ration for 6 months will be provided to people: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

10:30 pm: All educational institutions in the Jammu division, except those serving as relief camps for flood-affected people, will reopen Friday. The Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) has ordered that all educational institutions (schools) in Jammu division, other than those schools which have turned relief camps, shall be functional from September 12, 2014.

08:25 pm: Fresh landslide in Ramban district.

07:42 pm: Rushed 2 lakh litres of water bottles for flood affected people of Jammu & Kashmir as advised by the Prime Minister. Also dispatched water purification plants of 4 lakh litres/day capacity to help augment drinking water supply in valley: Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

07:00 pm: Soldiers have rescued a seven-day-old baby after they heard her cries while wading into one of the innumerable parts of Srinagar where people are still being trapped in their homes by several feet of water. The infant was trapped on the top floor of a house with its young mother.

06:50 pm: Over 1,10,000 persons have been rescued so far by the Armed Forces and NDRF from different parts of Jammu & Kashmir in the ongoing rescue and relief operations.

06:35 pm: The death toll in the Jammu region has reached 153 and is expected to rise further, while 23,000 marooned people have been rescued. "At least 153 people have lost their lives. We have many missing people... this could take the toll to 200," Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said. The rescued people have been housed in 83 relief camps.

06:02 pm: The army, in a statement, said efforts have been "intensified" on the 10th day of rescue operations with more than 220 columns being involved in the effort. Eighty four transport aircraft and helicopters of the air force and the Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service, said a statement issued by the ministry.
The army has deployed around 30,000 soldiers for rescue and relief operations - 21,000 soldiers in Srinagar region and 9,000 in Jammu region.

05:15 pm: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has opened a bank account for receiving donation for flood-affected people of the state. Under the title of Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund, J&K, interested people can deposit their donations in any branch of J&K Bank in Account No.0110040100001275; IFSC Code JAKAO MOVING, an official statement said.

04:25 pm: Rescue operations our priority, around 900 people have been evacuated since morning: Air Commodore Prashant Patange, AOC-in-C, Jammu air base.

03:48 pm: One lakh people have already been rescued. 30,000-35,000 have been rescued by NDRF and Indian Air Force : Rajnath Singh.

03:36 pm: Air India is operating relief flights out of Kashmir. Today it operated one such flight from Leh to Delhi which carried 122 passengers including 44 students from NIT.

03:29 pm: Armed forces set up 19 relief camps in Jammu and Kashmir, housing at least 20,000 flood-affected people, and provisions are made to distribute essential food items and water bottles to them.

03:06 pm: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) steps up efforts to provide succour to flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

02:50 pm: All officers and staff of Prime Minister's Office decide to voluntarily contribute one day's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, as a gesture of solidarity with the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

02:40 pm: 20 per cent of water supply has been restored in Kashmir and efforts are being made on war footing to restore communication links, both physical and telecom, in Valley which is witnessing worst floods in six decades.

02:34 pm: Jammu and Kashmir administration orders all government employees to report to duty by Thursday evening so that efforts can be ramped up to salvage situation.

02:25 pm: Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami rushes to Srinagar to coordinate rescue and relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

02:00 pm: Indian Oil Corp (IOC) airlifts aviation fuel (ATF) to Srinagar to aid air sorties to marooned valley.

01:20 pm: Army, IAF rescue over 96,000 people in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir.

01:00 pm: Chhattisgarh government to extend Rs.10 crore relief to flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir.

12:33 pm: Flood waters recede further in Kashmir Valley enabling rescue teams to evacuate another 2,000 stranded people and provide crucial supplies for people desperately waiting for help in submerged areas.

12:21 pm: Hectic efforts underway to gradually restore snapped telecom links which had hampered rescue work. In pics: No respite for Jammu and Kashmir

12:15 pm: Transport aircraft and helicopters of IAF and Army Aviation Corps are carrying out non-stop rescue and relief operations.

12:10 pm: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams scale up their rescue efforts.

12:02 PM: Indian Air Force deploys world's biggest chopper MI-26 for rescue operations.

11:40 am: Army Hospital in Srinagar running out of power. 20 critically ill ICU patients evacuated from Srinagar.

10:40 am: Over four lakh people are still marooned in Jammu and Kashmir as the flood waters continued to recede in river Jhelum and its tributaries, bringing relief to the flood-hit Kashmir Valley.

10:00 am: More Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been flown into the Valley to help the ongoing rescue operations in Srinagar.

09:25 am: IAF to fly special aircraft from Amritsar to Srinagar with special food packets.

09:24 am: Western Air Command contacts Golden Temple to help people in Jammu and Kashmir.

09:23 am: Golden Temple to provide ready to eat meals for people in Jammu and Kashmir.

09:22 am: IAF ropes in Golden Temple, Amritsar in Jammu and Kashmir relief operations.

09:00 am: Leh district administration to airlift 150 NIT Srinagar students from Leh to New Delhi.

08:50 am: 400 to 500 students of NIT Srinagar, who were rescued from flood-affected areas of Srinagar, will be flown to New Delhi today by 4 planes.

08:40 am: Railways sends 3 lakh 'rail neer' bottles to flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir. In pics: Jammu and Kashmir battles floods | More rains to lash J-K

08:30 am: Delhi Division of Northern Railway makes special arrangements for people coming from flood-affected areas.

08:20 am: Help desks have been opened in Jammu, Udhampur and Katra: Railway spokesperson.

08:10 am: Flood control room set up at Andhra Bhawan in Delhi.

08:05 am: Around 60 Andhra students are held up due to heavy floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

08:03 am: 710 sorties have been undertaken by choppers and aircraft out of which 97 sorties were carried out on Wednesday.

 07:59 am: 807 tonnes of relief materials were dropped by Indian Air Force.

07:55 am: Armed forces personnel are distributing water bottles and food packets on a large scale.

07:54 am: So far 2,10,000 litres of water, 2.6 tonne of biscuit, seven tonne baby food and 31,000 food packets have already been airdropped and distributed in flood-affected areas. Video: The road to Srinagar

07:49 am: Army provides 9 satellite phones to state administration and is shifting mobile network of BSNL from Kargil to Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar to establish communication network in nearby areas.

07:45 am: To help civilians telephone their relatives, Army is also supplying 38 generators with mobile phone charging sets.

07:40 am: Navy sends another unit of its elite Marine Commandos to Srinagar where they will be using their high-tech boats to reach out to people stranded in houses.

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Jammu Kashmir Flood: District-wise situation update

Kashmir Division

Srinagar district:
The  river  Jhelum  and  breached  its  embankment  at  several  points. 30%  of the  city  including two  hospitals  in  Srinagar  and  390  villages are  submerged in water, and  another  1,225  partially  submerged. 
Power  and  communications  are  down  in  most  parts  of  the  city. 
Residency  Road and  other  major  roads,  parts  of  Rajbagh,  Jawahar Nagar, Gogji  Bagh  and  Wazir Bagh areas  have  been  flooded. Badamibagh Cantonment, Indira  Nagar,  Shivpora,  Sonawar,  Hari Singh High Street,  Qamarwari,  Shaheed Gunj,  Zainakote,  Kakasarai  in Srinagar  town  and   the   roads   leading   to   the  Civil   Secretariat,  the valley’s   lone   children’s   hospital   and   the   Tourist Reception  Centre are  also  under  water.  About 8,018  civilians  are  reported  to have been rescued  till  now. 
The  Army  has  rescued  1400  of  its  personnel  and  their   families   caught   in   flood   waters   in   its   headquarters   at Badamibagh   Cantonment   in   Srinagar. 
Boats are being flown in from Delhi to Srinagar's worst affected areas -¬‐ Indranagar,  Shivpura and Rajbagh.  Some people have managed to flee to safer location,   other   are   trapped   on   terraces   awaiting   relief.   Marine   Commandos (MARCOS) have been deployed to rescue people from submerged houses. 
They have rescued over 200 people so far. According to official sources, there are nearly 15,000 tourists in the city. There are reports of major damage to crops, orchids and water supply system.


Anantnag district:
There have been reports of people being stranded in different locations.  14 families  in  Kokernag  comprising  of  96  family  members were  rescued  at  Mati Bidhar  and  shifted  to  safer  locations.  Many villages remain marooned and inaccessible. 

Baramulla district:
Around 150  families  from  flooded  villages  have  been  moved  to  Government Degree College  in  Sumbal. 
Seven  labourers,  trapped  by  flood  waters  of  Ferozepur  stream  in Kunzar (Tangmarg)  area  of Baramulla  district,  have  been  rescued  by police.

Pulwama district: 
In Pulwana district, 150   sheep   have   reportedly   been   washed   away.   Their number is likely to increase   as   more information comes in.  The river Jhelum has had a major breach at  Kandizal  affecting  70,000  people. Nawpora in Pulwama partially affected but accessible for rescue operations.

Ganderbal district:
Officials  said  a  youth  who  got  trapped  in  flashflood  in  River  Sindh  at Ganderbal  district  was  rescued  after  in  a  joint  effort  of  police,  army and Fire department  (3rd September).

Kulgam district:
In Chanipora of Kulgam district, there is no respite in water level except a few inches. Residents are in need of extra essential goods (8th September).  Many villages remain marooned and inaccessible.

Budgam district:
In Humhama  (Airport  Road), water has receded but it is still hard to pass through  (8th September).


Shopian district:
Large number of Livestock, which is the  lone  source  of  livelihood  of  many nomadic  communities residing  in  the  upper  reaches   of   Shopian   district,  has  been  washed  away.   Many   villages   remain   marooned   and   inaccessible. The Rajpora Shopian Police along with the civil administration managed to rescue about 400 people and their cattle from villages Rakh Litter, Wachi and Zainapora.

Jammu division

Rajouri district:
Reports  from  the  Rajouri  district  in  Jammu mention that  the  relief material that  was  flown  in  are  yet  to reach  the  affected  villages.

Poonch district:
There  are  reports  of  people  being  stranded  in  different  areas in  Poonch district. 
According to local sources, around 1500 - 2000 people have been displaced.  Around 300 houses have been total destroyed and another 700-800 houses are partially damaged. The main electricity lines and 12 towers have been damaged but efforts are on to switch to the old power lines as a temporary measure. Food, clothes and blankets are needed for the flood hit families.

Reasi district:
Five  people  have  reportedly  died  after  they  came  under  a  tree  that fell  by storm  and  heavy rains  in  Momankot  area  of  Reasi  district  (3rd September)
Further details in terms of damage conditions are not available.


Udhampur district:
Two  more  units  of  Army  and  NDRF  have  been  airdropped  to  Pancheri in Udhampur  where 30  people  are  missing  after  a  landslide  hit  the area.

Jammu district:
Flood  waters  have  entered  in  Qamarwari,  Shaheed  Gunj,  Zainakadal and Kaksarai  areas  of  Jammu.
Preliminary  need  assessment  in Gujjar Nagar  (1000  people)  and  Karim Nagar (2500) have  brought  out  the  need  for utensils,  gas/stove,  food, drinking water, warm  clothing,  rain  gear,  torch,  candles,  medicines etc.

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