Janjivan Representative
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday braced for a fresh spell of rain over the next two days even as there was relief with the receding flood waters that have claimed 17 lives so far.
There has been no fresh rainfall over the past 24 hours which eased the flood concerns in the valley earlier in the day.
Kashmiri shopkeepers try to remove water from inside a footwear shop following heavy rains in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir.
Water level in river Jhelum was also receding and it was flowing at 16.45 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir, down over six feet compared to 22.80 feet 24 hours earlier. The water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city also reduced by more than one and a half feet and it was expected to drop further by the night.
However, the Met department has forecast light to moderate rains by Wednesday and intense rains by Thursday, raising fresh concerns among people who were hoping to see the end of woes caused by the floods.
Schools and colleges have been closed across the Valley in view of the flood threat and ongoing examinations have been postponed.
However, University of Kashmir will hold examinations as per schedule from Wednesday in view of the improving flood situation, an official of the varsity said.
As rescue operations continued, the Centre said the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir so far is not as grave as last year but authorities are on alert to deal with any situation.
“Situation is not as grave as last time. But we are fully alert and if required we will send more assistance,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reportes in Bagdogra.
Meanwhile, six bodies were recovered from the debris of four houses which collapsed in Laden village in Budgam district on Monday, taking the death toll in the incident to 16. Ten bodies had been recovered till last night.
One person trapped in the landslide is also feared dead but there was no confirmation.One person had died in flash floods in Udhampur area of Jammu region.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was rushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Valley on Monday to assess the situation there, presented his report to him on Tuesday, suggesting a number of measures to address the problem permanently.
Meanwhile,Jammu and Kashmir government has said a Rs 43,959.56 crore relief and rehabilitation package for the last year’s flood-hit people has been submitted to the Centre for its approval.
In a written reply to the question of PDP member Abid Hussain Ansari in the Assembly yesterday, Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Basharat Bukhari said the relief package of Rs 43,959.56 crore also includes Rs 4,500 crore for the affected business establishment.
As and when the funds are provided by the Government of India for the special package or announced by the Prime Minister and Chief minister out of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s
Relief fund for such business establishment, the payment shall be made to the owners of said establishments, he said in the reply.
Replying to a question by PDP’s Syed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi, Minister for Horticulture Abdul Rehman Veeri had yesterday said the government had submitted a proposal to the Centre for sanctioning Rs 2,806 crore as ex-gratia relief in favour of farmers and orchardists.
He had said the loss assessment of last year’s floods had been completed and about 6.48 lakh hectare of crop and fruit area was affected by rains and floods, causing loss to the tune of Rs 5,611.65 crore.