Universtity to hold exams as per schedule
AMN
With the improvement in weather during the past 24 hours, the flood threat in Kashmir Valley reduced substantialy today. Water level is substantialy decreasing in River Jhelum. Jhelum is now flowing below the flood level at 16.45 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir, down over six feet compared to 22.80 feet 24 hours earlier, a police official said. He said the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city has also reduced by more than one and a half feet and it was expected to drop further during the day.
Meanwhile, Fifteen bodies have been recovered from the debris of a house which was struck by a huge mudslide in Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday morning. Search operation to recover the body of ten-year-old Faisal was still going on. Police has evacuated 750 people from different parts of the valley to safer places during the past 24 hours. Senior officers, including the range Deputy Inspector Generals, are monitoring the situations across the valley from South to North Kashmir.
Eight teams of National Disaster Response Force, NDRF have been deputed to assist the state government. The Indian Air Force has also placed its resources on standby and is keeping a close watch on the flood situation in the state. Two Mi-17 Helicopters each at Srinagar, Jammu and Udhampur have been kept stand by. In addition to this, one Cheetah helicopter of Indian Air Force are on standby at Srinagar and Jammu to be part of rescue and relief operations. 20 columns with rescue boats and other equipment have been kept on alert to deal with any situation that may arise due to rising water levels. Army is assisting the civil administration in flood control measures in Baramulla.
Schools and colleges have been closed across the Valley in view of the flood threat while ongoing examinations have been postponed. However, University of Kashmir will hold examinations as per schedule from tomorrow in view of the improving flood situation, an official of the varsity said.
The Centre today asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to utilise 209 crore rupees available under the State Disaster Relief Fund to compensate them from any crop loss. Agriculture Ministry in a statement said, the state government can disburse input subsidy to farmers in respect of crops which have suffered more than 50 per cent losses.
Officials of Agriculture Department are in constant touch with the state government. As soon as flood waters recede, the central government officials will assess the losses of Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, barley and fruits like apple and cherry crops.
In the meantime, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was deputed to take stock of flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, has submitted a report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Naqvi said Centre has assured all help to the State government.