Flood declared in parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir

Srinagar, : Incessant rains for the past two days in Indian-controlled Kashmir have pushed water level up in the rivers and streams, and authorities have declared floods in several parts, officials said Saturday. “The water level in Jhelum river crosses danger mark following heavy rain in the region over the past few days,” a government spokesman said, adding that authorities have declared flood in central and southern parts of the region.
The local government has ordered closure of all educational institutions in the region in the wake of rains and flood.
Officials of the irrigation and flood control department have urged people living along the embankments of Jhelum, other streams and in low lying areas to remain vigilant and move to safer locations. In Jammu, River Tawi and Chenab was also flooded, following which authorities sounded an alert in the low lying areas.
The meteorological department officials said improvement in weather is likely to be witnessed in next 12 hours.Authorities have also suspended annual Hindu pilgrimage in the region in the wake of the inclement weather.
The incessant rains have triggered landslides at multiple places on the 294-km Srinagar-Jammu highway, leading to its closure. In 2014, floods described as “worst in a century” by the local government hit Indian-controlled Kashmir. The floods killed 330 people and as per official estimates, the region suffered a loss of 16 billion U.S. dollars.Xinhua