Srinagar, September 3
The flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir continues to be grim with incessant rains cutting of Kashmir valley from the rest of the country for the third consecutive day today.
The 300 km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only surface link between Kashmir valley and rest of the country, remained blocked for the third consecutive day due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rainfall between Ramban and Banihal.
The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway, the lifeline to Ladakh region, also remained closed for the second consecutive day today due to heavy downpour along the area, particularly on Zojila Pass dividing line between Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
Water logging on the roads due to continued downpour across the valley led to the disruption of traffic between Srinagar and Pulwama, while the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway continued to remain blocked at Chursoo, Awantipora between Srinagar and Khannabal (Anantnag).
A special Cabinet meeting to review the flood situation in the state held here this morning under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was informed that the Air Force and Army had also been kept in readiness.
These would be approached at an appropriate time whenever required to assist the civil administration to deal with the situation.
The meeting decided that schools and colleges would remain closed for two days from tomorrow in view of incessant rains and flood situation in various parts of Kashmir valley and also in Jammu areas.
School and college buildings would be utilised to accommodate people who may be displaced as a result of floods, wherever required, an official spokesman said.
Three ministers in each districts of Srinagar and Anantnag and two each in Pulwama, Budgam, Baramulla and Jammu would remain stationed to monitor the
situation and rescue and relief measures.
There have been reports of breach in the banks of river Jhelum between Anantnag and Srinagar districts leading to inundation of various villages in the area. These spots were in Sangam, Kakapora, Lasjan and Kandizal where several villages have been marooned and cut off from adjoining areas.
Several localities in Srinagar, including Mehjoor Nagar, Natipora, Padshahi Bagh and Bemina area were under water and roads in most parts of the city remained water logged disrupting normal life.
Heavy accumulation of overflowing water in the premises of the Jhelum Valley Medical College and Hospital at Bemina
led to the evacuation of patients to other hospitals here as a precautionary measure.
According to the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Mr Riyaz Ahmad Kamili, the water level was on the rise and Jhelum was flowing above the danger mark across the valley.
Its level continued to be 9 feet above the danger mark at Sangam in south Kashmir since yesterday, while it flowed 2 feet above the mark at Ram Munshi Bagh here today. Its level was 2 feet above the danger mark at Asham in north Kashmir, before the river flows down into the Wular lake.
All examinations of the University of Kashmir, scheduled for September 4 and 5 have also been postponed.
The four-day Gulmarg festival being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department in collaboration with Gulmarg Development Authority scheduled to commence on September 7 has also been postponed.
