Flood alert sounded in Kashmir

Srinagar, April 21

A flood alert was sounded in the Valley on Tuesday as Jhelum river crossed the danger mark in Srinagar.

"The water level of Jhelum river recorded at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar city at 8 am today (Tuesday) was 19.10 feet, which is above the danger mark," an official of the flood control department told IANS here.

"At Sangam in Anantnag district, the water level stood at 20.8 feet which is also close to the danger mark." The official also said that a flood alert has been sounded as the water level in the Jhelum river is still rising at many places.

Many areas in south and north Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Baramulla have been inundated by waters seeping through river and stream embankments or through small breaches in these areas.

The Srinagar-Baramulla highway was also inundated at some places because of water logging, but the traffic on the highway has not been disrupted so far.

Kashmir witnessed unprecedented floods in September last year and because of silting of river beds and streams, even a day's downpour has been resulting in an alarming rise of water levels this year.

Kargil town in Ladakh region has received fresh snowfall during the last two days, resulting in closure of all traffic into the town.

The fresh snowfall in Kargil and on the Zojilla Pass that connects the Ladakh region with the rest of the state is likely to delay the opening of the Srinagar-Leh national highway this year.

The weather department has forecast dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir from Tuesday onwards, though it said there could be isolated light to moderate rainfall at some places till Wednesday.

IANS