Nearly twelve years after the devastating flood inundated the Valley, Kashmir is once again holding its breath as another deluge threat looms over the region.

It’s not for the first time after 2014 that Kashmir is facing a flood scare. Whenever it rains continuously the Valley is pushed to edge. Rivers swell and threaten the dwellers with roaring waters and remind them about their power to cause devastation.After 2014 deluge, the Centre and the World Bank provided more than Rs 2,000 crore for recovery and flood management of Jhelum. Despite that Jhelum and other rivers cross the danger mark just within 2-3 days of moderate rainfalland it happens quite often.

The Jhelum remains Kashmir’s lifeline, but it also poses the Valley’s greatest flood threat when it’s carrying capacity is compromised.  The fundamental concern remains unchanged. The Jhelum continues to overflow with alarming ease, exposing the Valley’s fragile flood management system. Every fresh flood alert raises the uncomfortable question: if thousands of crores have already been spent, why does Kashmir continue to remain so vulnerable?Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns with short-duration but high-intensity rainfall events are becoming more frequent across the Himalayan region. Flood protection infrastructure designed decades ago is insufficient to meet these emerging realities.

Whenever it pours memories of the 2014 floods are refreshed. Scenes of the catastrophe which Kashmir witnessed return to haunt people. The rivers crossing the danger mark every now and then reflect that flood management system in the Valley is not........

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