Kashmir reeling under worst floods in six decades

Kashmir was on Friday battling the worst floods in nearly six decades with four more people killed in the deluge that left a trail of devastation across the Valley, damaging roads, over two dozen bridges and standing crops worth hundreds of crores of rupees.

Due to heavy rains since Wednesday, River Jhelum and many other streams were swollen and had inundated most areas in five districts in the Valley leaving 10 people dead. Three more districts out of 10 have also been affected.

Three persons were washed away today by the strong currents in Sukhnaq Nalla in central Kashmir Budgam district while another youth was drowned in Vishnu Nalla in south Kashmir Kulgam district, police said. State Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather had said on Thursday that six persons had died due to floods in the Valley.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been monitoring the relief and rescue operations and visited several flood affected areas in south Kashmir today. Omar also supervised the evacuation of patients from Bone and Joint Hospital at Barzulla late last night.

Officials said as many as 60 major and minor roads have been cut off and 30 bridges washed away, hampering the relief and rescue operations. A senior official said this is the worst flood recorded in recent history of Kashmir.

"The level of water in River Jhelum at upstream Sangam in Anantnag district is well above the measurable mark of 34 feet... the measuring metre has disappeared, which has resulted in flooding of Anantnag and surrounding areas," the official said.

He said there was no mention in official records about this happening before. "We have seen the level of Jhelum rise to 26 or 27 feet in the past but never beyond that," he added.