Jammu and Kashmir authorities declared a flood in Srinagar and other districts of Central Kashmir after the Jhelum river crossed the danger mark on Saturday. The annual Amarnath Yatra remained suspended on Saturday owing to heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported.

Officials said the water level in the Jhelum river crossed the danger mark of 19 feet near Ram Munshi Bagh following incessant rain, reported GNS. Darhali river in Rajouri district too is overflowing.

“The gauge at Ram Munshi Bagh crossed the flood declaration of 18 feet and was flowing at 20.87 feet at 10 am,” an official of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department told PTI. Residents living along the embankments of River Jhelum and in low lying areas of central Kashmir are advised to remain vigilant, he said.

A flood alert was issued in South Kashmir on Friday after the water level of the river crossed 21 feet at Sangam in Anantnag district.

Governor NN Vohra chaired an emergency meeting at Raj Bhavan to discuss the flood situation in Kashmir, ANI reported.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Syed Abid Rasheed Shah has directed Irrigation and Flood Control officers to take immediate action in vulnerable areas and asked officers on leave to report back to work. He has requested the people living in low-lying areas and embankments of river Jhelum in Srinagar to be alert and be prepared for evacuation.

Amarnath yatra remains suspended

“The yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp [in Jammu] here has been suspended,” an unidentified police officer said.

An unidentified official told IANS that the yatra was suspended as heavy rains lashed Baltal and Pahalgam base camps over the last two days. “Due to slippery trek routes and bad weather, no yatri was allowed to move towards the cave shrine from either base camp.”

According to authorities, 844 pilgrims, who opted for the 12-km Baltal route, managed to reach their destination on Friday night, but 2,032 pilgrims who chose the 36-km Pahalgam track were stopped at Tikri and other places in Udhampur as precautionary measure. “After getting the road clearance, the pilgrims were allowed to start their journey towards their destination this [Saturday] morning,” the police officer said.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorm with rain in Jammu region.

Director of Met department (Srinagar) Sonam Lotus said the weather would improve on Saturday afternoon, “but from July 2 to [July] 3, there will again be heavy rainfall.” Lotus said there were chances of flashfloods and water logging in low-lying areas, according to Rising Kashmir.