Incessant rainfall across different parts of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday created a flood like situation prompting the authorities to evacuate people from some of the low lying areas after the water levels touched the danger mark. Higher reaches across Kashmir valley including Amarnath cave shrine area also witnessed fresh spell of snowfall. The mercury levels in several parts of Kashmir valley reportedly dropped up to 15 degrees, lowest in the last 50 years in Srinagar.
The situation turned grim in Kashmir valley as several water bodies including river Jhelum crossed the flood alarm mark. Control rooms have been activated across affected districts to remain in touch with the local population while special teams have been constituted at the district level to closely monitor the situation.
The weathermen, however, advised people not to press panic buttons as the weather started showing signs of improvement in the second half of the day.
Due to continuous rainfall for the last four days, several areas across South Kashmir districts remained inundated disrupting the smooth movement of traffic in the interior areas. Livestock was affected badly in several parts of Kashmir. After assessing the situation on ground zero the Union Territory administration decided to shut down schools and other educational institutions.
On the other hand the National Highway linking the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar also remained blocked since late Tuesday evening as massive landslides/mudslides and shoot stones disrupted the smooth flow of traffic.
On Wednesday the highway was blocked near Samroli, 13 kms ahead of Udhampur following fresh landslides.Shuttering of an under construction bridge near Peerah in Ramban was washed away. Road stretches between Nashri and Banihal remained blocked at around 30 locations. The frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch also witnessed flash floods while the erstwhile Doda district remained on high alert following heavy downpour in the region. Unconfirmed reports claimed several nomads, venturing in higher reaches, have gone missing. Moving swiftly, local teams consisting of Indian army/police/ district officers were rushed to trace them and extend all possible help. "No loss of lives has been reported in the higher reaches of Rajouri.The army/Police & the adm are in constant touch, the rescue operation will start as soon as the weather becomes conducive;contact with nomads at Shopian & Kulgam also established" tweeted office of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Vikas Kundal.
An advisory was issued by the Chief Engineer Baglihar power project, to avoid going near Chenab riverbanks in view of rise in water level in the Baglihar reservoir due to incessant rains. In Ramban, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mussarat Zia late evening visited the affected stretch on the National Highway near Mehar to take stock of the road clearing operations. By late evening over 25 blocked locations were restored and work was going on to clear the other points. The movement of stranded vehicles going towards Kashmir valley was facilitated while a massive landslide at Samroli was being cleared till the time of filing the report.The district administration in Ramban had earlier made elaborate arrangements for stranded passengers and accommodated them at allocated shelter points and fed them fresh food and snacks to keep them warm. Two columns of the Indian army also remained deployed along the National Highway to extend immediate help to the stranded passengers in distress.