IIOJK faces flood alert amid continued rains and communication breakdown
Srinagar: Several areas in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir remain on flood alert as continuous heavy rainfall has caused rivers and water bodies to swell. Communication services across the territory, including mobile internet, broadband, and phone lines, continue to remain disrupted for the second day running due to damage of optical fibre cables and poles.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district, the Flood Control Division confirmed that the Jhelum River had crossed the flood declaration mark of 21.66 feet. Officials stated that persistent rainfall and increased water inflow since the night of August 25 had pushed the river past the danger level at the Sangam gauge, prompting a formal flood declaration.
In Srinagar, the Jehlum’s water levels at Ram Munshi Bagh have also crossed the alert mark. Several areas in south Kashmir were inundated earlier this morning, with floodwaters entering residential neighborhoods, forcing residents to seek higher ground.
In Srinagar, anxious residents have gathered along the riverbanks, keeping a close watch on the rising water levels of the Jhelum and concerned about the possibility of flooding in nearby low-lying areas.
The Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain in many areas of Kashmir between August 27 and 29 with brief spells of rain. From August 30 to September 1, moderate rain is likely at a few isolated locations, keeping the territory on edge.
The inclement weather has also impacted digital connectivity in IIOJK. All major service providers have reported significant network outages due to damage to optical fibre infrastructure across multiple locations. The resulting communication breakdown has caused widespread inconvenience.
IIOJK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced concern over the widespread outage, describing the situation as reminiscent of earlier crises.
Taking to X, he said IIOJK was facing “almost nonexistent communication”, adding that only a trickle of mobile data was working, while WiFi & most apps had collapsed. He added, “Haven’t felt this disconnected since the terrible days of 2014 & 2019″.
His remarks referred to two critical periods in recent Kashmir history: the devastating floods of September 2014, which submerged much of Srinagar and snapped communications for weeks, and the communications blackout imposed in August 2019 after Modi government’s abrogation of IIOJK’s special status.
