Persistent flood threat in Gundipora Pulwama as embankment erodes

PULWAMA — Local residents in Gundipora village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are facing a persistent flood threat as an old river embankment was eroded on Wednesday.

Locals, while speaking to The Kashmir Pulse, said that the river embankment shielded the locality against rising water levels and consequent flood waters. However, the villagers are now facing a perilous situation.

The aggrieved residents said the erosion of the river embankment exposes Gundipora and several nearby villages to floods and inundation.

The local people are now living in terror of the flood water from the river breaching into the locality including a Jamia Masjid, in case of heavy rainfall in the catchment area.

“We have been calling the officials to act sooner on this embankment but the government officials have only been doing mere lip service,” an elderly man, who did not disclose his name, said.

He added that some officials came to the area only to assure that the embankment will be taken care of. “We appeal to the local authorities including the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Baseer-ul-Haq to repair the embankment in the shortest possible time, so that we could also have a peaceful sleep.”

It is in place to mention here that the Valley of Kashmir usually witnesses frequent rainfall up to the month of September, which elevates the flood risk for Gundipora village if the river embankment is left unrepaired.

Pertinently, various areas in Pulwama district witnessed a flood-like situation on June 22 after incessant rains continued for four consecutive days in the Valley.

The villages of Achan, Pinglena, Gundipora were particularly affected as some important roads were not motorable.