Thousands of people abandoned their homes and fled to safety as floods, described as the worst in six decades, worsened in the Kashmir Valley on Friday.
Authorities said water had entered the second floor of several houses on the outskirts of Srinagar, while the death toll State-wide had risen to 72 from 64 on Thursday. More than 120 villages in the State have been affected.
The Jhelum river was flowing above the danger mark. The police said the worst hit was south Kashmir, where hundreds of structures have been washed away.
“South Kashmir has been hit badly, and our Inspector-General is personally trying to take rescue teams to the area which has become inaccessible,” Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ahfad-ul-Mujtaba told The Hindu .
The Army, the police and six companies of the National Disaster Rescue Force carried out rescue operations across the Valley. The police rescued 400 people in Shopian alone.
“We are working hard, but there are limitations when faced with a natural calamity of this extent. We have been working round the clock since the floods began and we are trying to save all lives and reach everywhere,” Mr. Mujtaba said.
“If we survive the floods, I will sell this place and shift somewhere else,” said Mushtaq Ahmad of Natipora.
By revenue records, the area where Mr. Ahmad’s house stands is a designated agriculture land. Many believe that illegal construction on agricultural lands and river banks is adding to the destruction.
The situation in Srinagar, however, has stabilised.
