J&K flood waters recede, six more bodies recovered

The flood threat in Kashmir Valley reduced with improved weather and receding water level in Jhelum River while the confirmed death toll in the flash floods rose to 16 with six more bodies recovered from the site of the landslide in Budgam district. Jhelum was flowing at 16.45 feet at Sangam in south Kashmir, down over six feet compared to 22.80 feet 24 hours earlier, while the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city also reduced by more than one and a half feet and it was expected to drop further during the day.

Although the weather has been cloudy, there has been no fresh rainfall over the past 24 hours, which has eased the flood concerns in the city. The weatherman has forecast light to moderate rains later in the day and tomorrow. “Light to moderate rainfall is expected in Kashmir over the next 24 hours,” a MET department spokesman said.