Jammu, Kashmir on red alert as flash floods, landslides kill 14

KASHMIR, July 20: Jammu and Kashmir remains on red alert after relentless rainfall triggered flash floods, landslides and shooting stone incidents across the Union Territory, claiming 14 lives over the past two days. The India Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall until July 23, prompting authorities to suspend the Shri AmarnathYatra for the second consecutive day and intensify emergency preparedness across the region.

Just a few hours of intense rainfall exposed the city's drainage infrastructure, leaving nearly 60 locations across Srinagar waterlogged. Residents and commuters questioned the effectiveness of the Srinagar Smart City project after roads and marketplaces were submerged following heavy downpours. As forecast by the MeT, intense rainfall led to rapid water accumulation in both downtown and uptown areas. Localities including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Babademb, SafaKadal, RajouriKadal and Eidgah were among the worst affected. Major roads such as MA Road, Residency Road, Lal Chowk, Boulevard Road and Alijan Road, along with neighbourhoods including Batamaloo, Hazratbal and Bagh-e-Mehtab, witnessed severe waterlogging. �"Z NEWS