It was a narrow escape from floods for people of Jammu and Kashmir following incessant rains for more than a week.While flood alert was sounded in Kashmir and rivers in Jammu were swollen and flowing ferociously keeping people on toes and gazing at water levels. It was flash floods triggered by heavy rains and cloudbursts which led to increase in water levels in Jhelum, Tawi, Chenab rivers. Rajouri and Poonch in the Pir Panjal region bore the brunt of flash floods consuming the lives of 22 people while seven are still missing.

Why do a few days of rain send shivers down our spine? If rains continued for a few more days, floods were imminent in J&K. It is clear that successive regimes have not done much since devastating floods in September 2014 to increase carrying capacity of rivers, reclaim flood plains and implement flood mitigation measures. We are literally back to square one! When it rains and rivers swell, we can only rely on prayers.

We have to understand how Kashmir’s only water outlet river Jhelum has lost its floodplains making the Valley vulnerable to floods. Jhelum spans 175 sq kms from south to north Kashmir and settles in Wullar lake, before flowing into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir through the Uri area of Baramulla district. Jhelum’s flat topography makes Srinagar the most vulnerable area to flooding in J&K. Wetlands including Hokersar, Narakara, Batamaloo nambal, Rakh-e-arth, Anchar and Gilsar on the left and right of Jhelum which acted as reservoirs of........

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