Jhelum Water Level Drops in Srinagar, But River Remains Above Flood Mark; Rain Alert Continues Across Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The water level in the River Jhelum showed a steady decline in Srinagar on Friday, bringing partial relief after days of heavy rainfall. However, the river continued to flow above the flood declaration mark at the crucial Ram Munshi Bagh gauge station, prompting authorities to maintain vigilance in vulnerable areas.According to the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, the 12 noon reading at Ram Munshi Bagh stood at 18.99 feet, down from 19.07 feet recorded earlier in the morning. Although the level remains above the 18-foot flood declaration mark, it is still well below the 21-foot danger mark, with officials confirming that the river is on a receding trend.The improving situation was also reflected upstream. At Sangam, the Jhelum was recorded at 18.90 feet, remaining below the 21-foot flood declaration mark, while Pampore witnessed a further decline to 5.09 metres, indicating continued recession.Downstream conditions remained mixed. Asham recorded a slight rise to 12.48 feet, still below its flood threshold of 14 feet, while Wular Lake rose marginally to 1,575.94 metres, remaining below the flood level of 1,578 metres.Among major tributaries, Vishow Nallah at Khudwani and Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi continued to rise but stayed below flood levels. Meanwhile, Lidder Nallah at Batkoot and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama registered a declining trend, while Doodhganga at Barzulla remained stable.Officials said the falling water level at Ram Munshi Bagh, Srinagar’s primary flood monitoring station, indicates that floodwaters are gradually receding through the city. However, residents living near riverbanks and low-lying areas have been advised to remain cautious until the river falls below the flood declaration mark.Meanwhile, independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif Keng has predicted light to moderate rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir, with South Kashmir likely to receive the heaviest showers. He warned that isolated intense rainfall could trigger flash floods, landslides and waterlogging in vulnerable areas, even as weather conditions are expected to improve later in the day.