J&K: Jhelum crosses danger mark; army keeps a tab to check disaster

NEW DELHI: Panic gripped J&K after floods hit the south Kashmir region in the wee hours of Monday morning. Incessant rains pushed Jhelum above the danger mark, bringing back memories of last year’s devastating flood. Budgam district saw maximum casualties, with six dead and 10 missing as a landslide buried four houses.

Though water levels have started receding, the Army and the civil administration are maintaining strict vigil to prevent a repeat of the disaster of Sep 2014. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has sanctioned `235 crore for relief and rescue.

"I have authorised release of Rs 225 crore in favour of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Rs 10 crore in favour of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu from SDRF for rescue and relief," he said in the assembly.

The Union home ministry has extended support to the state with Rajnath Singh reassuring Sayeed of relief material being sent to the valley in the quickest time possible via air as Jammu-Srinagar national highway was blocked due to landslides.

The prime minister also sent Union minister Mukhtar Abas Naqvi with a high-level team to Jammu and Kashmir to monitor the flood situation. The state administration had called on the Army to assist in relief operations as rains showed no signs of stopping, and water crossed danger levels at Sangam (south Kashmir) and Ram Munshi Bagh (central Kashmir).