Rain and snow lead to Kashmir floods; 2 missing in Pahalgam

Two persons, including a tourist from Uttarakhand, went missing in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in south Kashmir

Heavy rains in the plains and snowfall in the upper reaches on Wednesday left most rivers and tributaries in J&K in spate and triggered flash floods; there was inundation of residential areas and closure of highways. Two persons went missing in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where a group of tourists was left stranded due to the inclement weather.

A spokesman of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Kashmir, said the habitation along the Jhelum river in south, central and north Kashmir were requested to remain vigilant as water was flowing above the danger mark at several places in the Valley.

“The flood duty as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been put in force,” the spokesman said.

Even the residents living along the higher contours of tributaries, including Vishow and Rambiyara streams in south Kashmir, were asked “to remain vigilant as water level was expected to rise further in response to the rainfall in the catchment”

Classwork in schools was suspended in eight districts of the Valley “as a precautionary measure”. Several localities close to low-lying areas in the Valley, including capital Srinagar, were hit either by flash floods or flood water.

Meanwhile, two persons, including a tourist from Uttarakhand, went missing in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.

“A group of trekkers was stranded in upper reaches of Tarsar-Marsar lakes. Fortunately, 11 sightseers were rescued so far but two, including a doctor from Uttarakhand, went missing after they drowned in a stream,” Dr. Mohammad Hussain Mir, an official in Pahalgam, said.