One feared dead in Kashmir Valley due to incessant rains

Samaan Lateef

Srinagar, June 22

A tourist guide was feared dead while 13 others were trapped near the banks of Tarsar Lake in south Kashmir as incessant rains threw normal life out of gear in the region. Efforts are on to rescue them, officials said. The authorities have sound flood alarm. The heavy downpour has been continuing since last week, triggering cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and a rise in water level in the Jhelum river, which flows through Srinagar. Roads and bridges were damaged, forcing authorities to shut schools in Kashmir.

Schools shut

• Schools have been closed in several areas amid the inclement weather.
• Alarm sounded as water level rising in waterbodies.

Fresh snowfall was recorded in the upper reaches of Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Keran, Gurez and near Baltal base camp.

Anantnag Deputy Commissioner Piyush Singla said studies were suspended in the schools of the district.

The main road in Uri was closed due to landslides. A bridge connecting several areas was damaged by flash floods in Bandipora. In Achan village of Pulwama, floods washed away a bridge, following which the district administration closed Pinglena and the main Kakapora road.

Crossing the flood alarm mark in the south, the water level in Jhelum near Sangam was recorded at 22 feet in the evening.