Flash floods have submerged residential areas in Taigan, near Srinagar, leaving residents without warnings or adequate rescue efforts from authorities.
SRINAGAR: Flash floods continue to devastate the Kashmir Valley, with rising water levels inundating residential areas on the outskirts of Srinagar, particularly in Taigan. The flooding has been attributed to a breach in the Jhelum River near Sangam, which has caused water to overflow into low-lying neighborhoods.
Residents of Taigan have expressed their anger and helplessness, noting that no official warnings were issued prior to the flooding. “No one informed us, and there was no warning about flash floods. We had to rescue ourselves. Some people are still trapped, but no one from the Omar Abdullah-led administration has come to check on us,” said one local resident.
Yaseen Khan, a young man in his thirties, along with his neighbors from Tengan village, sought refuge in a temporary tent along the divider space of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. They fled their homes on Wednesday night as floodwaters rapidly engulfed their community.
Villages such as Tengan, Shalin, Zinpora, and several others on the outskirts of Srinagar were inundated after the muddy floodwaters breached the river’s embankment late at night, leaving thousands of residents stranded. While the breach spared the posh areas of Srinagar, including Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Shivpora, and Lalchowk, it forced many villagers in Budgam to seek safety on the elevated Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which separates Tengan village from extensive paddy fields.
Evacuations reportedly began at midnight and continued into the morning, with many families choosing to leave on their own before water levels rose further. Residents also moved their livestock and cattle to the highway and railway tracks for safety.
The affected individuals criticized the “late and inadequate” response from local authorities. “We didn’t get any help from the administration. No relief, no water, no food has been provided to us by the government yet,” said Wani, a local resident, as his neighbors nodded in agreement. They pointed out that the relief shelters set up by the government are located 20 kilometers away, making it difficult for them to leave their homes unguarded.
Many flood-affected individuals have taken refuge on the national highway and railway line, feeding their cattle while waiting for assistance from the government. “Rescue efforts were delayed. People were trapped with no shelter, no washrooms, nothing. The government keeps making claims about evacuation measures, but on the ground, there is nothing,” lamented Reyaz Ahmad Dar, another affected resident.
The floodwaters have submerged the ground floors of numerous homes in the area, leaving families distressed and anxious about the potential for further damage if water levels continue to rise. “Our only hope is with the Central Government,” said another resident. “Our homes are badly damaged, and we need urgent help to rebuild.”
Panic has spread through several neighborhoods as water levels rise, prompting locals to call for immediate rescue and relief operations, including the deployment of boats and emergency supplies. Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and relocate to safer locations if possible, as heavy rainfall is expected to persist.
Source: Original article