Heavy rains trigger flash floods in Kashmir areas

Heavy rains Thursday threw normal life out of gear across Kashmir, even as Meteorological department predicted moderate rains or thundershowers at many places in the Valley over next 24 hours.

Heavy rains started to lash Kashmir early Thursday morning, leading to water-logging in many areas of the summer capital Srinagar and caused damage to several residential houses.

Met officials said Srinagar received 11.6mm rainfall, Qazigund 0.8 mm, Pahalgam 7.6 mm, Kupwara 1.1 mm, Kokernag 1.7 mm and Gulmarg 0.1 mm.

“Moderate rains or thundershowers would continue at many places in Kashmir over the next 24 hours,” Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus told .

Officials of Irrigation and Flood Control Department said they are monitoring the water level in river Jhelum and other rivers, rivulets, and streams.

“There is no change in the water level in river Jhelum and other water bodies. Water discharge is still low,” said Javid Jaffer, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control department.

‘CLOUDBURSTS’ AT SOME PLACES

Cloudbursts wreaked havoc in north and central Kashmir areas and Ladakh region, causing damage to property and crops.

In Srinagar, a cloudburst hit Patthan Bagh Brein Nishat that led to inundation of adjoining areas including surroundings of Nishat garden.

A cloudburst also took place in Bag-e-Ali Mardan Khan area of Srinagar, causing damage to several residential houses.

Reports of a cloudburst in Drugmulla area of Kupwara also came in.

Reports said a cloudburst hit Army Depot at Khanmoh area, leading to inundation of several houses.

Reports said a cloudburst struck Malik Mohalla Kralpora area of frontier Kupwara district, causing damage to some residential houses and a school.

Reports reaching here from Kargil said flashfloods hit Shakar areas of Shkarchktan Sub-Division on Wednesday, causing heavy damage to dozens of residential houses and destruction of corps. Most of the roads in the areas have suffered damage. Shakar block is cut off from Kargil district headquarters from last two days, official sources said.

Reports said to assess the situation, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Ghulam Hassan Khan along with officers visited the affected areas and met the victims. He directed the officers to take immediate step for assessment of losses.

Meanwhile, police said it rescued 130 tourists stranded due to heavy rainfall and blockage of Leh-Manali road in Ladakh region.

A police spokesman said a team of Leh police and local administration rescued 130 stranded tourists late night as a culvert was washed away on Leh-Manali road.