Floods declared in Kashmir Valley: Schools closed after Jhelum crosses danger mark

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday declared a flood situation in Kashmir Valley as Jhelum river crossed the danger mark in Srinagar following incessant rains. [caption id=“attachment_2179451” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  PTI image.[/caption] All schools in the Valley have been closed for two days after heavy rains inundated large areas. According to the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, river Jhelum crossed the danger mark of 18 feet and 22 feet at Ram Munshibagh and Sangam respectively at 7 am. Accordingly the authorities have declared that Kashmir is facing a flood situation and people living in low lying areas, especially in and around Jhelum, have been advised to move to safer areas. The government has put forth men and machinery into service to help the people affected by the floods, an official spokesman said. Elderly persons and children have also been asked to shift to specially set up camps. He said all the employees deployed for flood control have been asked to report for duty immediately. The heavy rains and flooding have paralysed normal life in the Valley, which was devastated by the worst-ever floods in its history in September last year. “The government on Monday decided to shut all schools up to class 12 in the wake of flood alert,” Director Education, Kashmir, Showkat Beigh, told PTI. Beigh added that the schools might be shut for two days. Beigh said the government had first announced closure of schools up to class eight only, but the decision to extend it to high and higher secondary schools was taken this morning after assessing the situation. He said all Board of School Examinations scheduled for today and tomorrow have also been postponed. Meanwhile, University of Kashmir has also postponed its annual examinations for two days. “The university examinations scheduled for today and tomorrow have been postponed. The new dates for these papers will be notified separately,” a University official said. Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) comprising 100 personnel have been rushed as part of contingency measures in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI