Rains kill 3 in Jammu; flood alert in Kashmir

Incessant rains claimed three lives in Jammu while a flood alert was sounded in south and central Kashmir on Saturday, with water levels in the Jhelum river rising after heavy rains over the last two days.

The meteorological department has predicted improvement in the weather for next two days, but the administration is not taking any chances keeping in view the experiences of 2014 floods when Srinagar got submerged.

Authorities have set up a round-the-clock monitoring system in various parts of the state. Water level rose above the danger mark at Sangam in South Kashmir as well as Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar on Saturday morning. At 3 pm the water level at Sangam was 23.02 feet, RM Bagh 20:93 feet and Asham 12:6 feet.

In Jammu, Jamela Begun, 30, of a nomadic Bakerwal family camping in the upper region of

JAMMU/SRINAGAR:

Kishtwar district, was killed when a tree fell on their tent. Her six-year-old daughter Nazia is fighting for her life in hospital.

Anzar Ahmed, 22, was washed away while trying to cross swelling Suran river in Surankote in Poonch district on Friday night. His body was recovered a few kilometers from the area.

Harbans Lal, 30, who returning home from work, was washed away while attempting to cross a stream in spate in Akhnoor on Friday evening.

WASEEM ANDRABI/HT Workers place sandbags along the banks of the Jhelum at Kursoo Rajbagh area of Srinagar on Saturday. As rains continued to lash the Valley, the government has sounded flood alert in Srinagar's low lying areas.