J&K floods: Army rescues people in inundated areas, PM Modi speaks to CM Mufti; water level recedes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on the situation and offered all the help needed.

Srinagar, April 7: Continuous rainfall has once again wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, which is now reeling under floods. The Jhelum River crossed the danger mark on Thursday while many parts of Srinagar were flooded. On Friday, the rains stopped following which water level in the Jhelum started receding. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on the situation and offered all the help needed. “Spoke to J&K CM @MehboobaMufti on the flood situation in the state. Offered all possible support from Centre in dealing with the situation,” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army was pressed into service for rescue operations in some areas. According to reports, Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles Battalion rescued 10 children stranded in the waterlogged areas of Parray Mohalla of Panzipura on Friday. This came after two days of continuous rainfall in the valley.

“Due to continuous rains, the gauge at Ram Munshi Bagh has crossed the flood declaration level of 18-feet. The habitation along the embankments of River Jhelum and in low lying areas of Central Kashmir are advised to remain vigilant,” an official of the Irrigation and Flood Control department said on Thursday.

J&K: Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles Battalion rescued 10 children stranded in waterlogged areas of Parray Mohalla of Panzipura, yesterday pic.twitter.com/K2RkbZbGSK

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 7, 2017

#WATCH: Rescue operations by Indian Army after flash flood in Jammu & Kashmir’s Poonch (April 06) pic.twitter.com/YNmZIn0cVv

— ANI (@ANI_news) April 7, 2017

The Jammu and Kashmir police set up emergency helplines across the Valley and put its officials on high alert to meet any eventuality. “Emergency help lines have been established in control rooms across the Valley to provide help to the people (in case of floods). These control rooms will remain open 24×7,” a police spokesman said as quoted by PTI.

Snowfall, avalanches and landslides also hit the higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Two soldiers died in Ladakh after an avalanche in the Batalik sector on Thursday following continuous snowfall. In Udhampur, vehicles were stranded as the Jammu-Srinagar National highway continued to remain closed due to landslide.