In Pictures: J&K witnesses landslides, flash floods due to incessant rains

In view of the current scenario, authorities ordered the closure of all schools in as many as eight districts

Days of continual rain in Jammu and Kashmir led to flash floods and landslides in several areas, especially disrupting normal life in the Valley of Kashmir on Wednesday.

Schools closed in many districts

Authorities ordered the closure of all schools in as many as eight districts in light of the current circumstances.

All primary, middle, and high schools in the districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora and Ramban have had their operations halted due to the severe rainfall.

Many villages inundated in Valley

After water burst and swamped many villages in the Kulgam, Pulwama, and Budgam districts, several arterial highways in the Kashmir valley were also closed.

The district authorities in Pulwama stopped Pinglena and the key Kakapora route after a bridge in the Pulwama hamlet of Achan was allegedly swept off by flash floods, creating inconvenience to travellers. According to locals, water logging has entirely shut off certain settlements.

Administration also issued a flood alarm

The administration also issued a flood alarm after a deluge of rain battered Jammu and Kashmir’s hills and plains, causing rivers, particularly the Jhelum, to suddenly rise in water levels.

The water level in Jhelum at south Kashmir’s Sangam in the afternoon was measured at above 20 feet, crossing the flood alarm mark in the south.

The water level was close to 15 feet in Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, which is a few feet below the alarm level of 16 feet and 4.5 feet below the flood level of 18 feet.

Along the path to the Amarnath cave, near Baltal Base Camp, Gurez, Gulmarg, and other upper regions of the area also had fresh snowfall.

Many key highways closed

Due to landslides caused by torrential rains that have left hundreds of vehicles stuck on the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar route, the road remained blocked for the second day in a row.

Due to landslides and shooting stones, the Jammu division’s Poonch and Kishtwar districts’ heavy rains have disrupted traffic flow along the national highway and on steep routes.

The district administrations in the area have set up support stations where they advise people to stay inside.

While the valley also saw its highest temperature ever, the recent rains have caused June’s temperature to drop to its lowest level in years. After Kashmir reported the warmest day in February earlier this year, the coldest day followed on June 21.