People wait on the roof of a house as a raft approaches to assist during floods in the outskirts of Srinagar on September 4. (Agence France-Presse Photo)
With Jammu and Kashmir battling the worst floods in nearly six decades, Home Minister Rajnath Singh will conduct an aerial survey of Poonch, Rajouri and Anantnag areas in the state tomorrow.
The home minister will also hold a review meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, apart from a review meeting in Jammu.
Due to heavy rains since Wednesday, River Jhelum and many other streams are swollen and have inundated most areas in five districts in the Kashmir Valley leaving 10 people dead. Three more districts out of 10 have also been affected.
Mr Abdullah has been monitoring the relief and rescue operations and visited several flood affected areas in south Kashmir today. He also supervised the evacuation of patients from Bone and Joint Hospital at Barzulla late last night.
Officials said as many as 60 major and minor roads have been cut off and 30 bridges washed away, hampering the relief and rescue operations.
A senior official said this is the worst flood recorded in recent history of Kashmir.
"The level of water in River Jhelum at upstream Sangam in Anantnag district is well above the measurable mark of 34 feet... the measuring metre has disappeared, which has resulted in flooding of Anantnag and surrounding areas," the official said.
Schools and colleges across the state have been closed till Monday while Universities in Kashmir have suspended all work for two days.
Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been called in to assist the civil administration in relief and rescue operations in the flood affected areas.
Most parts of south Kashmir including Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam district have been submerged. Officials said the water level in Rambiara stream in Shopian district was also rising very fast, threatening to inundate the only south Kashmir district not affected by floods so far.
The threat of floods has increased in north Kashmir region after River Jhelum breached the danger mark of 14 feet at Asham in Bandipora district, they said.
The authorities have evacuated people from many areas in Bandipora in anticipation of flooding today.
The Sindh nallah in Ganderbal district is also flowing above the danger mark while the water level in streams and rivulets in Budgam district is also rising fast.