Uproar in J-K assembly over Kashmir floods

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Wednesday erupted in uproar over the flood situation in the valley and the state government's response to the same.

The National Conference and the Congress raised slogans against the government, and accused it of doing little to help the people. National Conference members were later marshaled out of the assembly.

The threat of floods is looming large over the Valley and the Army has begun its evacuation process in Srinagar as the city experienced fresh rainfall today.

The soldiers of the engineering wing of army, who have been specially trained for flood rescue ops, have made four units in Srinagar and are ready if the situation deteriorates further.

Lieutenant General Subrata Saha (GOC Chinar Corps) had earlier assured that all the arrangements are in place to deal with any emergency situation that may come up in the state.

Heavy rains and a landslide in the Valley have killed 17 people so far.

Fifteen people were killed when a hillside collapsed onto a house in Ledhan village, about 40 km (25 miles) from Srinagar, before dawn on Monday. Army and police used shovels and diggers to search for the missing.

Police said two other people died in flash floods in another part of the state.

Hundreds of people have fled their homes as Kashmir's main rivers began to swell and weather forecasters predicted further downpours in the region that was struck by devastating floods just seven months ago.