Rain triggers flooding in south Kashmir, Jhelum crosses danger mark

Several parts of south Kashmir were inundated on Thursday with streams and rivulets running in spate and the Jhelum flowing above the danger mark as heavy rainfall lashed the region.

A flood alert was sounded late last night for Anantnag and Pulwama districts with the MeT department predicting more rain over the next 48 hours.

Several areas of Anantnag district, including Nai Basti, Takia Behrampora, Shamsipora and Hassanpora, were flooded due to the overflowing Jhelum river and its tributaries, officials said.

Some parts of Kulgam district, including Qoimoh, Mir Bazar, Asthal and Devsar, were also inundated as the Vaishav stream breached its banks, the officials said.

The water level in the Jhelum and its tributaries rose sharply following heavy rainfall since Wednesday.

Jhelum was flowing at 27.15-ft, 4.15-ft above the danger mark, at Sangam at noon, they said. In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the river had risen to 20.70-ft, almost two feet above the danger mark, the officials added.

Several bridges and roads have been washed away in south Kashmir with the Tral area in Pulwama district bearing the brunt of flash floods triggered by the downpour.

Minor breaches have been reported in embankments of water bodies at some places, but officials of Flood Control department have plugged these, the officials said.

There were unconfirmed reports of some nomads being trapped by flood waters in the Chamgund area of Kulgam district.

Meanwhile, the divisional administration reviewed the situation at a meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon at 4.00 A.M. on Thursday.

People living in and around flood-prone areas of Anantnag and Pulwama districts have been advised to shift to safer areas. Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed to vehicular traffic due to landslides at two places caused by rainfall, a traffic department official said.

He said landslides occurred at Gamro and Magarkote in Ramban district, which has blocked the arterial road connecting the Valley to rest of the country.

"Efforts are on to clear the debris for ensuring early restoration of traffic on the highway," the official said.

Train operations between Banihal and Baramulla have also been suspended as the tracks have been submerged at several places in Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam districts.