Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said his government will review the flood mitigation measures implemented in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2014 deluge.
His remarks came after flash floods caused by heavy, continuous rainfall wreaked havoc in Jammu and led to swelling of water bodies, including the Jhelum River, in Kashmir.
“There were heavy rains in both Jammu and Kashmir. God saved us. Had the rainfall continued for another day or more, the situation could have been extremely difficult. The water is now receding — faster in Jammu and a bit slower here in Kashmir,” Abdullah told reporters.
He noted that just two days of rain had brought Kashmir close to flooding. “What would happen if it rained for four days? We would face a situation similar to 2014. Back then, we endured seven days of rain and were inundated on the eighth day. Now, we managed two days of rain with difficulty,” he said.
Abdullah stressed the need for corrective measures, emphasizing that people should not live in fear of annual floods. “In the coming days, I will sit with officers to review the steps taken after 2014. How was the allocated money spent? How much was the flood channel’s carrying capacity increased? How successful were our dredging efforts in the Jhelum? We must address any gaps,” he added.
Earlier, Abdullah visited the revered Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake to review arrangements for the upcoming Eid-Milad-Un-Nabi celebrations, directing various departments to ensure proper facilities for devotees.
