Jammu and Kashmir floods toll rises to 15

The flood-toll in Jammu and Kashmir rose to 15 Thursday with all major rivers flowing above the danger mark.

At least 15 people were killed during the past two days in floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains, police said.

At least five people were killed in Anantnag district Thursday in flash floods resulting in landslides.

On Wednesday, five members of a family were killed in a landslide in Reasi district of Jammu region, while three others, including a BSF officer, were killed in Poonch district. Two people were also killed in Badgam district.

The Haj flights from Jammu and Kashmir to Saudi Arabia have been cancelled for three days due to the floods.

Hundreds of villagers remained marooned in Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts after flood waters surrounded their houses.

Police and the army have begun a massive rescue operation to shift the villagers to safe areas.

River Chenab in Jammu region with other rivers was flowing above the danger mark.

Jhelum was flowing five feet above the danger mark in Anantnag while it was flowing four feet above the red-mark at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, authorities said.

Met Office Director Sonam Lotus told IANS that more rainfall is expected in the state till Saturday.

"We are expecting a decrease in precipitation after Saturday evening," he said.

An alert has been sounded in Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Shopian, Bandipora, Badgam, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts.

Both the Srinagar-Jammu and the Srinagar-Leh national highways have been ordered closed.

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag and Shopian districts of the Valley also remained shut Thursday.

University of Kashmir has announced postponement of all exams scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Seven labourers, trapped by flood waters of Ferozepur stream in Kunzar (Tangmarg) area of Baramulla district, have been rescued by police. These labourers were working at a stone crusher, said a senior police official.

Flood waters entered Srinagar city's bone and joint hospital in the Barzalla area when the Doodh Ganga channel breached its embankment.

Flood waters and water logging due to inadequate drainage also inundated Safa Kadal, Eidgah, Nowshehra, Soura, Residency Road and several others areas in the summer capital city.