Heavy, rains, snow trigger flood fears in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, April 6 (Xinhua) — Incessant rains and snowfall in Indian-controlled Kashmir Thursday triggered fear of floods among residents.

The rains that are continuing from past three days have pushed water level up in the rivers and streams.

Authorities have ordered closure of schools and college across the region for three days in wake of heavy rains.

Officials have also issued an alert for the people living in low lying areas. According to flood and irrigation officials, the water level in river Jhelum has crossed the flood alert mark of 16 feet at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar city.

“Heavy rain and snow has been recorded from almost all the places accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning,” an official at meteorological department said. “There are reports that water has logged at several paces including Srinagar as well.”

According to meteorological department, Srinagar received 83.9 mm rain and snowfall during the past 24 hours.

Weather is likely to improve from Friday, the officials at meteorological department said.

The incessant rains have triggered landslides at multiple places on 294 km Srinagar-Jammu highway leading to its closure. The road connecting Muslim majority areas of the region to winter capital — Jammu and other Indian states is the only road link.

In 2014, floods described as “worst in a century” by the local government hit Kashmir, which killed 330 people and as per official estimates the region suffered a loss of 16 billion U.S. dollars.