Flood situation worsens in J&K, Jhelum river crosses danger mark

Months after Jammu and Kashmir was ravaged by devastating floods, several areas in the Valley are again facing a flood-like situation due to the incessant rains in the state.

Here are the live updates:

9:20 am: Minister of State, Abdul Majid Paddar confirms that Jhelum river has crossed the danger level in some areas. The J&K Minister says that water level is expected to recede as there has been no downfall in the last few hours.

9:15 am: Heavy rains overnight causes waterlogging in Kashmir’s towns and villages. Avalanche waning has been issued in some areas. Power supply has been hit in many parts of the state capital.

9:00 am: Briefing the media Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu says that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed senior ministers to visit all the states  and take stock of situation assess damage done to farmers due to unseasonal rains.

8:45 am: No rains reported in last 3-4 hours. The MeT department has said there will be no rain for the next 4-5 hours.

8:15 am: The Meteorological Department has said that the state would witness heavy rainfall in the next six days, adding that the hilly regions in north India would be under a wet spell next week as well.

7:00 am: Jhelum river has crossed danger level in Srinagar and Sangam area of south Kashmir with heavy rains lashing most parts of the state.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared floods in parts of Kashmir valley as the water levels in the Jehlum rose steeply in last 12 hours.

The government has advised people living near the banks of the Jhelum and in the low lying areas of the valley to shift to safer places.

A senior official said water level of river Jhelum at 6 am at Sangam (South Kashmir) and Ram Munshi Bagh (Srinagar city) has touched 22′.4 feet and 18′.8 feet respectively. Danger level at Sangam is 21 feet and at Ram Munshi Bagh it is 18 feet.

At Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar, the water level at 6 am has been recorded at 18.55 feet which is slightly higher than the flood alert level.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed following landslides at a number of places on Sunday.

The Srinagar-Gulmarg road was also closed after a bridge in Kunzar village was washed away by the swollen Ferozepur Nallah.

The newly-elected Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Sunday took stock of the flood threat and reviewed the preparedness of the administration that has already been put on high alert.

The University of Kashmir has postponed all examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.