Kashmir

Heavy rains lash Kashmir valley, MeT warns of landslides, flash floods

SRINAGAR — Many areas in the Kashmir valley were lashed by rains, with few places, receiving heavy rainfall leading to an increase in the levels in several water bodies, the officials said.

The weather office has forecast few spells of rain and thundershower at most places with heavy rain and brief intense heavy showers in few districts of J-K till July 23. It has warned of rockfalls, landslides and flashfloods at places.

Raging floodwaters swept dozens of shops in a complex in Beerwah built near the embankment of a stream. However, there were no reports of any loss of life, officials added.

They said heavy rainfall over the upper areas in Beerwah area of the central Kashmir district caused Sukhnag nallah to overflow.

According to local residents, the stream touched its highest water level since the 2014 floods in the valley, the officials said.

Floodwaters also washed away the Sukhnag Diversion at Beerwah, and caused infrastructure damage to a newly constructed bridge.

The water levels also increased in the streams in Tangmarg area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the officials said.

They said the floodwaters entered a few houses and damaged the agricultural/horticultural land.

The Meteorological Department said it rained moderately at many places in Kashmir, with isolated heavy or intense showers at a few places of Budgam, Kupwara, Baramulla, Ganderbal, parts of South Kashmir and Chenab Valley.

It said intense showers, thunderstorm over northwest and central parts of valley would continue over the next few hours, and may generate localised flashfloods, mudslides and landslides.

It said major chances of shooting stones, rockfalls at few vulnerable areas of hilly districts of J-K are also possible.

The Met office advised people to stay away from nallas, streams and landslide prone areas. — (PTI)