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Floods In Jammu & Kashmir –With Special Reference To 2014

UmmarAhad
parray.umar@gmail.com
Govt. College For Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar.

Abstract: -On September, 7, 2014, the river activities (such as increasing human settlements
Jhelum, Jammu and Kashmir, was inundated by and economic assets in floodplains…) and
flood water everywhere smashing everything in climate change contribute to an increase in the
its way. The flood waters, triggered by seven likelihood and adverse impacts of flood events‘‘
days of unusual heavy rains, caused havoc in the (EU 2007). A key indicator for the
region. They washed away crops, orchards and spatiotemporal dynamics of flood risk is the
devastated housing and business infrastructure. observed increase in flood damages over the last
The main brunt of the ferocious floods, described decades (Barredo 2009; Kreft 2011; UNISDR
as the “extreme of the extreme”, was borne by 2011). This increase can be attributed to socio-
Srinagar city - the city known as the summer economic factors, including settlement growth
capital of Kashmir - home to around two million near rivers and the rise in the concentration of
people. Many remained trapped on roof tops, values in these areas (Evans et al. 2004; Barredo
evading flood waters, for weeks. All major 2009; Munich Re 2013), which has been
hospitals, shops and pharmacies were inundated confirmed in numerous empirical analyses. The
and roads were washed away, plunging the valley of Kashmir has an inherent relationship
Kashmir valley into chaos and causing with the complex of mountain systems which
unimaginable suffering. More than half a million emerges out of the Pamir Knot in different
people, most of them in Srinagar city, got directions of the valley clearly defining the
trapped in their houses as the city was watersheds and basins. The general physiography
submerged under 18 feet water for more than of the valley is that of a basin, surrounded on
three weeks. It was a nightmarish experience every side by lofty mountains, and in the middle
within few hours the whole localities got is a huge alluvial tract, intersected by the Jhelum
submerged and no way to flee. and its numerous tributaries which flow down the
Keywords: Disaster; Climate change; Floods; mountains and are fed by the abundant snow and
Deluge; Paradise;Inundation; Hazard. rainfall. The almost flat alluvial basin measures
INTRODUCTION 150 kms from south-east to north-west and 42
A flood is a situation where water from the water kms from south-west to north-east. Thealtitude of
bodies overflows on the adjacent dry land this the flat plain varies from 1500 to1800 m
making the surroundings inundated. Flood risk above the sea level and the general slope of the
can be defined as the combination of the valley is from south-east to north-west. A study
probability of a flood event and its potential on the development of flood exposure in the
adverse consequences (Smith 1996; Sayers et al. Kashmir valley found that socio-economic
2002; UNISDR 2009). As both aspects of risk— change and the increased intrusion of urban area
hazard and vulnerability—are non-stationary, in flood-prone zones have led to an exponential
flood risk is a ‗‗dynamic entity‘‘ (Merz et al. increase in potential flood damage during the last
2010). This changeable characteristic of flood few decades. While there is a general unanimity
risk is emphasized in the EU Floods Directive that land development and land conversion in
(2007/60/EC), which specifies that ‗‗…human floodplains has and will continue to have an

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immediate effect on flood risk, practical findings components of the Himalayan hydrological
concerning the climate change-related influences cycle, e.g. due to higher temperatures or rising
are less clear. According to the fifth IPCC snowlines.
assessment report (Hartmann et al. 2013), floods
larger than recorded since the twentieth century Study Area
occurred during the past five centuries in Asia , J&K is located in the northern part of the Indian
northern and central Europe, the western subcontinent in the vicinity of the Karakoram
Mediterranean region and eastern Africa‘‘. For and Western Himalayan mountain ranges. The
Asia, although there is some evidence of a state is a landlocked Himalayan region,
overall increase in extreme precipitation, no surrounded by Pakistan, Afghanistan and China
conclusive evidence is available for climate- from west to east and by Punjab and Himachal
related trends of extreme flow for the future Pardesh states to its south. There is a sharp rise in
(Barredo 2007, 2009; Kundzewicz 2012; Madsen altitude from 1000 to 28,250 ft(amsl)within the
et al. 2014). A comprehensive study of climate state‘s four degree of latitude. The foothills ofthe
change impacts on flood frequency shows no Himalaya, rising from about 2000–7000 ft (600–
clear climate signal (Nachtnebel et al. 2014). 2100 m), form the outer and inner zones. The
Blo¨schl et al. (2011), on the other hand, report PirPanjalRange constitutes the first
on the basis of several if–then scenario (southernmost) mountain rampart associated with
simulations that future changes for flood peaks the Himalaya in the state and is the westernmost
with a return period of 100 years are in the range of the Lesser Himalayas. The Vale of Kashmir is
of -4 to 10 %. Although no conclusive evidence a deep, asymmetric basin lying between the
and projections exist concerning changes in flood PirPanjal Range and the western end of the Great
frequency and magnitude, it is clear that climate Himalaya at an average elevation of 5300 ft
change is influencing and will further influence (1620 m).Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Study Area

Data and methodology

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For the monsoon season, Indian Meteorological its source. From its source, the Jhelum flows in a
Department (IMD), New Delhi publishes, in its north westerly direction, but at its exit from the
weekly weather reports, daily rainfall for each Wular lake the river takes the south westerly
day of the season as recorded at about 2600 rain- direction. All along its course, the river is
gauge stations comprising IMD‘s own network, characterized by two main features (a) the
automatic weather stations (AWS) network sluggish flow(b) the highly torturous course. The
ofIMD, state rain-gauge networks, etc. The later one is the outcome of both topographic and
normal daily and monthly rainfall over various hydraulic factors.The river is navigable without a
stations/districts has been calculated using single lock from Khanabal to Baramulla.Upto the
average data for the period 1970–2000 for which present by a good amount of transport activity is
long-term records are available. DailyIndian carried along it in the flat bottomed boats. The
precipitation analysis from a merges of rain- river Jhelum during the floods carry heavy loads
gaugedata with the TRMM TMPA satellite- of silt and a great volume of water and its
derived rainfall estimates during 3–7 September channels get choked by the siltation, which in
2014 have been used to show rainfall over the turn makes floods a recurrent phenomenon
J&K region. The rainfall rates have been affecting agriculture and other land
calculated for some of the stations using hourly use/cover.Jhelum drains the whole valley of
rainfall recorded in AWS installed in J&K. Kashmir and from north-west of Anantnag where
The Jehlum and its Tributaries its head waters the Arapal from the north-east
The Kashmir valley, which forms a composite unit. Two to three miles north of Anantnag the
Jhelum basin, has a fairly well established Jhelum receives the Lidder which rises in the
drainage system headed by the Jhelum, the main snow fields from north of the Sheshnag and do
channel of drainage. The river is initially formed contribute a volume of water scarcely inferior to
by the confluence of 3 streams, the Arapal, the that of the Jhelum. A few miles north of
Bringi and the Sandran which rise at the south- Bijbehara it receives waters of the Vaishav and
east end of the valley. The river has shaped up Rambiarastreams, both of which flow down from
the ecology, economy and the life style of the the PirPanjal Mountains. The former stream
inhabitants of the valley. The whole length of the rising in the holly spring of Kounsar Nag and
Jhelum from its source from Verinagto later in the NandanSar and BhagSar lakes. At
Baramulla is 150 miles. The drop of the river is Srinagar, it receives the Dodhganga stream
18 m in 113 kms. The Jhelum itself rises from which also rises in PirPanjal range. Besides
the Pirpanjal range near Verinag, a spring at the these, it is fed by numerous smaller streams and
bottom of high scarp of a mountain spur at the mountain torrents and its water communicate
upper end of the Kashmirvalley. Below Srinagar with those of the Dal, Anchar and Manasbal
it receives the Sindh and beyond, the Wular lakes. The river makes source of the finest
Lake, thePohru stream joins it from the Lolab meanders over this stretch and lays down a good
valley. AfarBaramulla the Jhelum leaves the deal of its suspended load along its bank.The
fertile banks of the valley and rushes head long a Jhelum basin has 24 tributaries and some of them
deep gorge between lofty mountains. drain from the slopes of the PirPanjal range and
AtMuzaffarabad, the Kishanganga joins the join the river on the left bank and some others
Jhelum from its heights. Lower down, the river flowing from Himalayan range and join the river
borders the outlying spurs of the salt range and on the right bank. In all, the Jhelum basin has 24
finally emerges upon the plains near the city of catchments (Fig. 2).
Jhelum in the West Pakistan about 402 kms from

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Fig 2.Jehlum Basin with its Catchment source: - JKENVIS

HISTORY OF FLOODS IN J&K camehalf a century later in 1893, when 52 hours

Jammu and Kashmir has a long history of of continuous rainfall,beginning 18 July, caused
flooding. Floods in the stateare linked to the what Lawrence describes as ―a great calamity‖.
Jhelum River and it has history of crossing the The Valley also recorded major floods at the turn
danger mark and thereby inundating the ‗Valley‘. of the century, with the most devastating one
And history was once again ferociously repeated coming 10 years after the 1893 disaster. The
in 2014, the statehad seen an unprecedented floods, of that day were classified as the ―greatest
amount of rainfall, resulting in its worst flood ever known‖, which came down the Valley
floodssince 1959. While the scale of devastation and inundating Srinagar on 23 July 1903,
caused by these floods wasnothing short of converting the city into ―a whole lake‖. For the
massive. The Valley, along with the Jammu next quarter of a century, the Valley did not
region has, over the time witnessedfloods record major floods, largely thanks to lessons
occurring at regular intervals.―Many disastrous learnt and mitigativemeasures, which were put in
floods are noticed in vernacularhistories, but the place. Kashmir was hit by a flood in 1948 also.
greatest was the terrible inundation which Then in September 1950, another major flood hit
followed theslipping of the KhadanyarMountains the state, with nearly 100 people losing their
below Baramulla in AD 879. Thechannel of the lives. The flood was, rather unsurprisingly,
Jhelum river was blocked and a large part of the caused by the Jhelum‘s overflow. In August-
valley wassubmerged‖ (Lawrence, 1895). The September of 1957, another major flood was
other major flood to affect Kashmir happened in recorded in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Valley
1841,which Lawrence notes, ―caused much bearing its devastating impact. The floods almost
damage to life and property.‖However, the first submerged the entire valley. The then Prime
flood of devastating proportions to hit the state Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, BakshiGhulam

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Mohammad was quoted as saying that, ―the season in the Kashmir and Ladakh region, butin
floods recorded in Jammu and Kashmir were the 2014 both these region had recorded moderate to
highest ever recorded in the state, and that the heavy rainfall.
damage caused by them was colossal.‖ Two The areas affected by floods were mostly
years later, in July 1959, the state witnessed yet districts, including Anantnag, Pulwama,
another massive ―glacial‖ flood, perhaps worst Baramullaand Srinagar. These are in rain-shadow
ever at the time, when four days of incessant region of the PirPanjal Range of the lesser
rains lashed the valley and Srinagar, triggering Himalaya and receive less than 300 mm rainfall
floods in the Jhelum. While the state did witness during the monsoon season. The total cumulative
floods thereafter in the following three decades, rainfall during the week from 4–10 September
the one in 1992 was unprecedented in terms of its 2014 over these districts was 309 (Anantnag),
fury. Recording its heaviest rainfall since 1959, 256 (Baramulla), 243 (Pulwama) and 148 mm
the 1992 floods were most devastating, purely in (Srinagar), which is higher than the average
terms of casualties. According to print media rainfall for the entire monsoon season in these
reports from 1992, over 200 people lost their districts. The continuous heavy rains were due to
lives and the floods left over 60,000 people interaction between the westward-moving
marooned in several north-western border monsoon low and the eastward-moving deep
districts. Floods were witnessed in 1996 and trough in the mid-latitude westerlies.
more recently in 2006 as well. Massive floods
were caused by a cloudburst in the Leh-Ladakh Unprecedented rainfall
region of Jammu and Kashmir, which occurred Around September 2, a confluence of three rain-
on 6 August 2010, produced flashfloods in the bearing systems over Punjab drew copious
area after a night of heavy downpour. While it amounts of moisture into north India in a five-
only lasted for half an hour, the devastation day spell that wreaked havoc in J&K. The
caused by the cloudburst was enormous. It change was most dramatic in Kashmir Valley.
destroyed many buildings in the city of Leh. The state had a deficit of 32% on September 3
which in a span of five days was transformed to
FLOODS-2014 18% excess rains — a change of 50 percentage
Jammu & Kashmir experienced the worst floods points. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
in the past 60 years was that of September 2014 (TRMM) downloaded from
due to unprecedented and extremerains. The http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov was utilized. The data
Jhelum River and its tributaries were in freshet from 1st September, 2014 to 7th September 2014
and infusedhavoc and huge damage in various was analyzed and the accumulated rainfall for the
districts of Kashmir Valley. The Jammu and day was calculated watershed wise for Jehlum
Kashmir state experienced catastrophic rainfall basin. Also, IMD data from 28th August to 10th
from 1stto7thof September. On September 4th, of September 2014 was analytically
2014 J&Kexperienced 30hour long rainfall that studied.Analysis of pre and post flood satellite
has broken the record of manydecades; the major images also revealed that snowmelt had an
parts of the state recorded an average of more impact though small.The post flood images
thansome aspects of catastrophic rain fall in showed more snow than pre-flood image
J&K. Some parts of the stateexperienced more indicating about fresh snow fall. Which might
than 650mm of rainfall in 3 days. Even have actuallygotwashed away by incessant rains
moderaterainfall was also recorded in Ladakh resulting in cold flood water. While analyzing
region. September was notconsidered rainy the cumulative rainfall from 1st September to

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7thSeptember 2014 catchment-wise, it was area was way above normal (124.9mm) rainfall.
observed that Lidder Catchment received (Anantnag = 402.3mm, Kulgam= 540.5mm,
maximum amount of rainfall i.e. 277mm with Shopain = 406mm, Pulwama = 292.7mm) was
adjoining catchments in South Kashmir viz-a-via way above normal (Anantnag = 32.9mm,
Arpal, Bringi, Kuthar, Sandran, Vishaw, Kulgam = 42.9mm, Shopain = 29.2mm,
alsoreceiving rainfall above 200mm.The rainfall Pulwama = 19.9) rainfall (Table -1).It is evident
data collected from Metrological department from the results that South Kashmir region
srinagarfrom 28th August to 10th September 2014 received the maximum amount of rainfall during
for Jammu and Kashmir also revealed that actual this period causing massive floods in Srinagar
rainfall received (1645mm) in South Kashmir and its adjoining areas.

Table-1: Rainfall data during two weeks in Jammu and Kashmir (Source IMD)
28 aug-03sep, 2014 04aug-10sep,
2014
Region/ Actual Normal Cat. Actual Normal Cat.
District (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
J&K 43.2 27.9 E 267.7 30.0 E
Anantnag 93.2 15.6 E 309.1 17.3 E
Budgam 35.8 8.4 E 76.7 19.5 E
Bandipora * 9.5 * * 10.3 *
Baramula 25.6 13.3 E 255.9 16.1 E
Ganderbal 91.2 9.2 E 32.6 9.8 E
Kulgam 80.3 19.3 E 460.2 23.6 E
Kupwara 7.6 11.7 D 129.2 6.2 E
Pulwama 50.0 6.5 E 242.7 13.4 E
Shopian 58.0 17.8 E 348.0 11.4 E
Srinagar 43.5 9.2 E 148.0 9.8 E
Cat:-Category E:-Excess, D:- Deficit
During the previous recorded floods on the clearly reveals the magnitude of September 2014
Jhelum were almost 100,000 cusecs of discharge floods. The carrying capacity of Jehlum in
recorded at Sangam and about 80,000 cusecs Srinagar city is about 35,000 cusecs and another
recorded during the 1928 floods. There are no 15,000 in the supplementary channel. Unless the
reliable discharge statistics available for the 1959 flood basins which stand encroachedupon are
floods though some reports suggest that the restored to cater to the surplus flow besides
discharge was almost 100, 000 cusecs at Sangam. taking some other measures, the city of Srinagar
While as, during the 2014 floods discharge at will continue to be under the threat during the
Sangam was highest ever recorded on 6th flood fury in future.
September 1,35,000 cusecs. This figure doesn‘t
include the breachesof river Jehlum(I&FC). The Spatial Magnitude of Flood Inundation
flood inflow was more than the combined The continuous downpour for almost more than a
carrying capacity of Jehlum and flood channel week had accumulated much water to inundate
despite the natural breaches of huge size at the major low lying areas of the valley. Almost
Kandizal, Chursu, Lelhar, Marwal, etc. The data for otherwise 6 sunshine‘s sun had gone literally

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missing. The flood inundationthough of varying km2, which constitutes about 3.5% of the
nature as for as spatial extent is concernedwas Kashmir Valleys geographical area, was
recorded as per the data given in table 3, during inundated due to flooding.(table 2).
this flood event. It wascalculated that about 557
Table-2: Table showing extent of inundation from 07-25 September, 2014
S.No. Date Area(km2)
1. 7TH September 2014 346.7*
2. 8TH September 2014 370.6
3. 9TH September 2014 361.2
4. 10TH September 2014 358.6
5. 12TH September 2014 338.6
6. 15TH September 2014 312.3
7. 17TH September 2014 291.7
8. 19TH September 2014 282.9
9. 21ST September 2014 271.3
10. 25TH September 2014 251.9
 As per the Govt. Records

District wise inundation of Kashmir Valley Jhelum and all its tributaries were flowing above
Unprecedented rainfall led to widespread danger mark. The worst affected districts were
flooding in the Kashmir valley. Flood waters Srinagar, Anantnag,Bandipora,Baramulla,
breached embankments in many low-lying areas Pulwama, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam (Table
in Kashmir, including the capital Srinagar. 3).
Table-3: District-wise inundation of Kashmir Valley
S.NO. DISTRICT AREA (km2)
1 Anantnag 43
2 Bandipora 143
3 Baramulla 89
4 Budgam 54
5 Ganderbal 6
6 Kulgam 15
7 Pulwama 102
8 Srinagar 100
Total 552

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Land use/Land cover

As above mentioned the major districts which were inundated during the flood,revealed the following
landuse,landcover categories deluged with their areal extent (table 4).

Table-4: Land use/land cover classes under flood inundation.

S.No. LAND USE/LAND COVER AREA (km2)

1 Agriculture 436
2 Horticulture 23
3 Built-up 69
4 Forests 3
5 Wastelands 19
6 Others 2
Total 552

Flood Duration
The flood waters isolated several areas in the valley and many villages were drowned by flood water for
several days. About 287 villages were affected by floods as on 25 September 2014. The Flood
duration/persistence map was prepared to analyze the stay period of flood water in various areas.
Accordingly, areas under 1-5 days, 6- 10days and 11 to 18 days were delineated.

Fig 3. Source: - NRSC/DEERS(2014).

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Images showing pre and post flood situation from Google Crisis have been used below to show extent of
inundation across various location in and around Srinagar city. High-resolution datafrom world view 2
satellites from Digital Globe has efficiently captured flood.

Plate 1

Pre and post flood- Central parts of Srinagar Municipality.

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Plate 2
Pre and post flood- Srinagar Railway Station Nowgam..

Pre and post flood- Indoor and Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar.

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Plate 3

Pre and post flood- NumaishGah (central market) High Court complex and JihangirChowk.

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POSSIBLE CAUSES OF FLOOD

Unexpected and unprecedented precipitation can rainfall is likely to increase by 1– 2mm/day
be defined in terms of number of rainy days if it (INCCA, 2010). Climate change is responsible
exceeds the currently observed average number for the increasing trend in the number and
of rainy days in a year as well as the volume of intensity of extreme weather events (IPCC,
rainfall in a day if it exceeds a particular 2013). Studies show extreme rain events are
threshold. Currently, the frequency of rainy days becoming more frequent as compared to
is more in East and North-East India and less moderate rain events. Rainfall is also becoming
over western India. Studies revealingprojections variable and unseasonal. Extreme rainfall events
for the 2030s, however, indicate that the related to monsoon are also expected to increase.
frequency of rainy days is likely to decrease in As per IPCC 5th Assessment Report there will be
most parts of the country. The number of rainy 30% increase in the incidence of extreme rainfall
days in the Himalayan region may increase by 5– in Asia. Highly anomalous rainfall storms and
10 days on an average in the 2030s. They will shifting of their distribution is now an
increase by more than 15 days in the eastern part internationally admitted manifestation of climate
of the Jammu and Kashmir. The intensity of change induced by indiscriminate

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industrialization, urbanization, consumerism and generated unprecedented floods, which raised the
other factors. Occurrences of floods outside the flood level of Jehlum at Sangam to about 34.70 ft
traditional States of Bihar, Assam, Eastern UP (danger level 21) breaking all the previous
and Orissa have increased due to higher records. This resulted in the abrupt increase in
frequency of extremely high intensity rainfall the flood level at Ram MunshiBagh which
storms. Many a times clouds entering into the touched around 29.50ft (danger level 18). This
valleys are not able to escape because of was boosted by the heavy rains in Sindh basin
orography, go on accumulating and ultimately (105mm) resulting in heavy discharge in Sindh
burst into a high intensity precipitation. Valleys Nallah which joins the Jehlum at Shadipora
enclosed by high hills are prone to heavy rains causing an upward rush and limiting the free
and cloud bursts with rainfall intensity of more flow of Jehlumwater into the Wullar Lake which
than 100 mm/hr. Unlike other areas, more than had the necessary detention capacity at that point
90% of rain falling on hard and solid glaciers as of time. The flood inflow was more than the
well as rocks flows down as run-off and may combined carrying capacity of Jehlum and flood
cause flooding by high rainfall. Incessant rains channel despite the natural breaches of huge size
may also induce melting of glaciers and add to at Kandizal, Chursu, Lelhar, Marwal, etc. The
ferocity of floods and deluge. Encroachment of data clearly reveals the magnitude of September
wetlands, construction of communication 2014 floods which caused deaths of human lives,
network and other developmental activities damaged communication, other infrastructure,
associated with land use change also add to livestock and wildlife. Hundreds of villages were
vulnerability and fragility. inundated, damaged or destroyed and lakhs of
Kashmir is a closed valley and Jhelum River people stranded in Kashmir valley.
with narrow section flowing through PirPanjal History bears powerful testimony to the
hills is the only outlet for releasing waters. In the fact that in Srinagar city many flood spill
year 2014, J&K received 55% excess rainfall, channels were dug during the reign of various
Western Rajasthan33%, Eastern Rajasthan 34% kings, administrators in the past. The Nalaameer
and was deficient in Punjab (-63%) and channel was dug during the reign of the great
Himachal Pradesh (-48%) over the normal. Kashmiri king, Zain-ul-Abidin while as the
Shopian district of J&K received 2953%, TchountKhulNallah was dug by Mehan Singh in
Kulgam 1850%, Anantnag 1687% and Pulwama 1835 AD with the sole purpose to save Srinagar
2380% excess rainfall over normal in the week city from floods. Nature has already bestowed a
ending 9th September 2014. All districts except vast network of wetlands locally called ―Dembs‖
Poonch received high rainfall. The rainfall data to the Srinagar city which acted as sponges
collected from Indian Metrological department during the floods and shared the Jhelum waters,
(IMD) from 28th August to 10thSeptember 2014 but during the last few decades due to rapid
for Jammu and Kashmir revealed that actual urbanization, these wetlands and water ways
rainfall received (1645mm) in South Kashmir were converted in to urban jungle. No attention
area was way above normal (124.9mm) rainfall. was given towards de-silting of the existing flood
TRMM data also showed that south catchments spill channels. Wetlands in Kashmir valley have
of Jehlum River received heavy downpour of lost their water absorption capacity due to
around 650mm of rainfall on 4th of September. excessive siltation and encroachments, thus
The glaciers and hard rocks produced lot of run- decreasing the chances to minimize ferocity
off, the soil of the region was already saturated during floods. Wetlands includingNarkara,
and incessant high rainfall for four days RakhiArath and Nowgam(Budgam),Hokersar,

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Anchar, Gilsar, KhoushalSar(srinagar), Haigam, Rashid and GowharNaseem of Jammu and

Shalabugh, Mirgund(sopore),Asham( Kashmir Remote Sensing Centre reveal the loss
Bandipora)Poshkur(pulwama) considered as of nearly 50% of the wetlands over the period of
natural sponges in times of floods – have been 100 years (Fig-4). In 1911 the total extent of
converted into ―agriculture and built-up‖ over the water bodies with marshy areas was 356.85 km2
past two decades which worsens the flood however it has reduced to 158.54 km2in 2011
susceptibility. An important study by Humayan (table: 05).
Table-05: Extent of Lakes and wetlands in Kashmir valley (1911-2011)
S.NO. Year Category Total (KM2)
Marshes Water bodies
1. 1911 271.70 85.15 356.85
2. 2011 117.43 41.11 158.54
Loss in Arial extent 154.27 44.04 198.31

Fig-4: Extent
of Lakes and wetlands in Kashmir valley (1911-2011)

Most of the housing colonies built in the within the 10km buffer of Srinagar reveals the
floodplains of Jhelum and along the Jhelum river land use / land cover has changed by about 30%.
course stand regularized by the successive Study identified around 43 priority wetlands and
governments and thus, encouraging the water bodies, which showed significant reduction
conversion of the remaining wetlands and in their extent.
marshes in the vicinity of the Srinagar and RECOMENDATIONS AND PREVENTIVE
elsewhere to built-up enclosures. And to the MEASURES
surprise is the construction of Government Normally surface runoff disappears very quickly
offices government residential colonies in these after the rains in the undulatingtopography of
low lying areas of Srinagar and the adjacent hills but it was other way round in J&K, and we
areas.One of the important studies by the DEERS have repeatedly seen the same way in last few

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years, especially in 2016 and 2017. The  The need of the hour is to dig up an
settlementsalong the embankments of Jhelum alternate flood spill channel for Jehlum.
and on wetlands and other water-bodies have  Feasibility for an additional alternate
strangulated the natural drainage network and flood channel from Kandizal to Wular
water gets stagnated in local low level zones should be carried out.
even if water level in Jhelum goes down and  The spill channel running
would require pumping out. It is a very critical acrossRawalpora via Peerbagh and
issue because there is only one flood water outlet Narkaraneeds to be desilted on priority
of Jhelum river, large number of settlements etc. basis to receive the overflowing waters of
is already inplace along it and extreme rainfall DoodhgangaNallah. And the construction
events are going to multiply in future due to works in this area must be stopped
global warming. Yet another factor of concern is immediately to hamper the worsening of
that whole state ofJ&K falls in seismically active the situation in future.
zone and normally experiences about 20  Strengthening of the bunds and
earthquakes in the range of 3.3 to 5.4 on Richter embankments and removal of the
scale which furtheraccentuate its instability and encroachments along them.
vulnerability to landslides and mass erosion of  De-siltation and revival of flood basins of
soil. Accordingly, all means of communications Khushalsar, Gilsar, Anchar, Hokharsar,
and transport systems of the fragile hills and Shalabugh, Haigam.
mountains are highly vulnerable; it requires very  Bunds along the Nallahs be raised and
unique strategy of rescue and relief as well as re- strengthened as these low lying bunds are
construction and rehabilitation operations. always prone to breach.
Frequent landslides, erosion of river banks,
 There is a serious need to develop a flood
washing away of roads, bridges, houses and other risk/hazard zonation map for Jammu and
infrastructure is a very challenging job of Kashmir in terms of assessment of
reconstruction, rehabilitation, restoration and physical and socio-economical
mitigation of floods in Jammu & vulnerability.
Kashmir.Primarily, the topography and structure
 Monitoring of sediment loads from
of the floodplain determine the extent of the
catchments and timely extraction on
increase in flooding intensities (i.e. inundation
scientific ways under proper supervision..
area and inundation depth), as, for example,
 Monitoring of Land use/Land cover
wider and deeper river channels combinedwith
changes of river basin.
steeper gradients can absorb higher peak
discharges.Secondly, the impact of future  There is a need to have water-bodies
increases in flood threat depends on the monitoring and flood warning system,
effectiveness of flood protection infrastructure to that can be achieved by equipping the
withstand the climate change. In some cases, the state with proper instrumentation, by
increase in peak discharges could lead to the using satellite based observations,
overflow (and possibly breaching) of retention supported by a dense network of
basins, while in other cases the flood protection automatic weather
schemes persist due to a considered safety stations/towers/profilers.
margin.  The state should come out with an
Following measures can be taken up to minimize advanceddisaster mitigation and
the risks associated with flood: preparedness plan especially regarding
evacuation strategy, optimum locations

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for rehabilitation/relief camp sites,and damage to housing and business sectors, public
capacity building programs. institutions particularly hospitals, road
 Inventorization, renovation and infrastructure, agriculture and transport sectors.
reconstruction of old heritage buildings, Over 300 people lost their lives across J&K,
flood zoning, relocation of buildings very including 85 persons from Kashmir. A
close to the river banks, strictregulations preliminary survey by the government revealed
to check future interferences with that the flood damaged over 3.50 lakh structures,
drainage system, emergencyrestoration of including 2.50 lakh residential houses and
will minimize infrastructural damages affected 12 lakh families in 5500 flood-hit
and human agonies. villages across the state. In worst-hit Kashmir,
2.60 lakh structures got damagedwith 95,000
Conclusion houses in Srinagar alone. It was a ―disasterof
Heavy rainfall and associated flash floods cause international magnitude‖ and the losses to
tremendous damage to life and property across propertiesand business were in excess of rupees
most of the mountainous regions of the world, one trillion.Heavy rainfall led to landslides and
including the Himalaya. The Himalayan ranges widespread floodingin the Kashmir valley. Flood
are prone to heavy and prolonged rainfall events waters breachedembankments in many low-lying
and associated flooding, particularly during the areas in Kashmir, includingthe capital Srinagar.
summer rainy months of June to September. Jhelum, Chenab and many otherstreams were
Variability in precipitation over the Himalaya flowing above danger mark. The worstaffected
during monsoon season is controlled by the districts were Srinagar, Anantnag,
atmospheric systems (lows or depressions). Baramulla,Pulwama, Ganderbal, Kulgam,
A continuous spell of 5-7 days of very heavy Budgam, Rajouri, Poonchand Reasi. It as such
rainfall in first week of September 2014, caused concluded that we need to be more vigilant in
disastrous floods in many parts of the J&Kstate. future. We as responsible citizens are supposed
According to media reports, the state government to work for the betterment of state in our
claimed that ‗the calamity, worst in the century, individual capacities.
caused colossal losses to life and massive

Plate 4
Deluged Paradise in Pictures.

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Volume 04 Issue14
November 2017

Wetlands in the Suburbs of Srinagar City during

Last Century Using Geospatial Approach.
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