Srinagar, May 7: After the water level in Jhelum touched the danger mark during the Thursday night, it has started to recede to the normal level.
 The Irrigation and Flood Control, chief engineer, Mir Najebullah, told Greater Kashmir that the water level at Sangam had reached 17 feet during the midnight, forcing the officials to sound flood alert. “But the level has receded now and the situation is returning to normal,” he said.
 The water level in Jhelum has receded to 13 feet at Sangam gauge, 13.5 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh and 14 feet at Asham.
 “This is below the danger mark and there is no need to panic,” he said. 
 The continuous rainfall during the past three days had resulted in breach in the irrigation canals at several places in Bemina and Chadoora in district Budgam. The water had damaged the vegetation in the fields.
 The Assistant Executive Engineer irrigation and flood control, Manzoor Ahmad, said the water had started to overflow Bemina canal at two places, Dandoora near Narkara and Durdal. “We plugged the breaches with sand bags to avoid damage,” he said, adding the embankments of the canals were damaged due to breach. Manzoor said Ahji canal was damaged to a large scale due to the breach.
 In Chadoora there had been a breach in the irrigation canals near Badhi Pora, Baete Wudar, Wathoora, Chattergaam canal and at other places.
 The AEE irrigation and flood control Chadoora said: “The water level has come down. The canal was damaged in the breach, but we are repairing it.”
 In Narabal area, the officials said the water had breached the Shali Ganga canal “But the situation is normal now.”
 Meanwhile, special prayers were held in Masjids across Kashmir for improvement in the weather conditions.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 May 2010 00:00:00 IST