Rains, snow cuts off Kashmir valley

By IRNA,

Srinagar, India : Authorities in Kashmir Saturday sounded a flood alert as water level in the river Jhelum and other rivers crossed the danger mark following incessant rains during past two days.


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The rains have claimed at least four lives and disrupted traffic on two vital highways linking Kashmir valley with Ladakh and Jammu.

An official in the Flood Control Room (FCR) said that the Jehlum water level in south Kashmir was 23.55 feet about 2.5 feet above danger mark this morning.

It was 19.25 feet in the city, about 1.25 feet above danger mark.

People living on both sides of the Jehlum have been advised to remain alert, he said, adding in some low lying areas some precautionary measures had already been taken.

There was no report of any breach in the bank of any river, he said.

Four people meanwhile were killed and hundreds of animals have perished in rain-related incidents during the past two days.

Official sources said here today that two women were killed when their hut collapsed, in a south Kashmir village, about 8 km from Tral.

They said a man drowned in overflowing Kaniara nallah in Baramulla while another fell in a fast flowing stream in south Kashmir district of Shopian, and drowned.

They said hundreds of animals, including goats and sheep, died due to heavy rains and cold in a forest area in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

According to these reports a flock of 40 sheep was washed away after heavy rainfall trigged a flash flood at Sangri forest area in Baramulla.

Official sources said about a dozen culverts were also washed away by water in south and north Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile the Ladakh region remained cut off from the rest of the Kashmir for the second day today after the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway was closed due to heavy snowfall. The road had become slippery due to snowfall, he said, adding the weather was still very bad in the area.

Drass and Kargil experienced fresh snowfall yesterday, resulting in cold and disruption in normal life.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at different places, including Kargil, Srinagar and Drass due to closure of the highway.

Meanwhile, light vehicle traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway was diverted after a portion of the road got submerged at Charsoo Awantipora in Pulwama district.

There were reports of landslides, triggered by heavy rains at several places on the highway.

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