Army jawans rescue flood-stranded people across a stream in Jammu (Press Trust of India photo)
At least 150 have died and 9,000 have been rescued in Jammu and Kashmir which is witnessing its worst flood in 50 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state today to review the flood situation. He will make an aerial visit to some of the worst-hit areas in Pirpanjal and South Kashmir.
Here are the latest developments in this story:
The Army and the Air Force have been roped in by the government to rescue stranded people. According to the Army, the situation in the state is as grim as it was in Uttrakhand last year.
A boat carrying nine Army jawans capsized on Saturday during rescue operation in Pulwama. Seven personnel have been rescued, while two others are still trapped.
Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Choppers also airlifted 108 BSF and Army men from forward Border Out Posts as floods badly hit security infrastructure along the Indo-Pak border.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on Sarurday. He also held a meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who later drove him through Srinagar city. "I want to assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that central government is with the state government, and we will provide all help possible," the Home Minister said.
"The villagers ignored early warnings and requests to evacuate," Mr Abdullah said, adding that the state requires medicines, tents, blankets, boats and clean drinking water. Meanwhile, Haj flights scheduled up to September 12 have been postponed.
The uptown area of capital Srinagar is the worst affected as River Jhelum is flowing several feet above the danger mark. The river has breached embankment in the Pulwama district and red alert has been issued in parts of south Srinagar including airport road, authorities said.
The southwest monsoon is vigorous over Jammu and Kashmir and the downpour is likely to continue for the next couple of days. A control room has been set up at Ramban district headquarters and all Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars have been asked not to leave their headquarters.
The flood has affected almost all 10 districts in the Jammu region. Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall have damaged roads, dozens of bridges, buildings and crops. Vehicular traffic has been stopped on the Jammu-Pathankot highway. The state government has also closed all schools till September 7.
On Thursday, 63 people died when the bus they were travelling in was washed away in the flash floods in Rajouri district. Rescue teams have retrieved 25 bodies so far; several bodies were fished out five km away from the accident site.
The Prime Minister condoled the loss of lives in the floods on Thursday and sanctioned Rs. 2 lakh for the family of those killed in rain-related incidents and Rs. 50,000 for the seriously injured.
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