FLEEING FROM THE FURY: People move out of an inundated area in Srinagar on Sunday. — Photo: AP

SRINAGAR: A grim situation prevailed on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir, with all rivers and streams in spate owing to incessant rain in the past three days. Srinagar faced a severe flood threat.

The authorities sounded a red alert, with the Air Force and the Army in standby mode. Six people were killed in Kathua district and over 160 villages marooned in the valley.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad convened an emergency meeting of the Cabinet and ordered that all possible measures be taken to deal with the situation.

The Government announced that all schools and colleges would remain closed for two days.

South Kashmiris are the worst affected by flash floods, with many villages inundated.

The Jhelum was flowing above the danger mark at the Sangam confluence near Bijbehara. At Ram Munshi Bagh here also it was up by many feet but receded after a natural breach on the city outskirts.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Basharat Ahmad Dhar, said: "We have set up control rooms all over and all possible help is being extended to people by means of boats, sand bags and evacuation." Two civilians were evacuated by a helicopter in Pulwama. In all, Mr. Dhar said 163 villages were marooned and a strict vigil was being kept over these areas.

Reports from Anantnag and Pulwama said a number of areas were inundated and water had entered the houses at many places, forcing people to flee. Some bridges and culverts were washed away in South Kashmir, affecting traffic.

Thousands of people, reports said, were trapped in their houses. A report from Kulgam said 1,500 persons were stranded at Chatel village.

Floods have caused heavy damage to paddy crop and fruit trees. Water was rising alarmingly in the famous Dal Lake, posing a threat to vast areas of Nishat, Shalimar, Brain and adjoining areas.

In Kathua district of Jammu, six members of a family, including two women and two children, were killed when their house collapsed on Saturday following heavy rain. One member of the family was rescued from under the debris.

Luv Puri reports from Banihal, Doda:

Chaos prevailed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway as landslips blocked the traffic at several points for the third consecutive day.

At least 1,200 people were stranded along the highway, which is the only link of the valley with the rest of the country.

There was some respite for the commuters on Saturday evening as the highway was cleared for for traffic. But heavy rain throughout the night triggered landlslips at several points.

The Chenab is flowing above the danger mark at several points, but officials said there was no danger to the Baglihar dam. Nearly 400 people have been displaced from the low-lying areas that are close to the Chenab.

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