New Delhi - XINHUA
The flood toll in Indian- controlled Kashmir has attained over 120 as the area was hit by the worst ever flood in more than 50 years, officials said on Saturday.
Incessant downpour for the last five days has led to the deluge of hundreds of towns and villages displacing thousands of people, although the Meteorological Office there Saturday said the "worst is over".
The flooding was also reported in the Srinagar region of Indian- controlled Kashmir. The communication with a Srinagar-based Xinhua reporter has been lost while a Xinhua photographer there said he has lost touch with his family.
Fourteen people died Friday in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district when a landslide buried them, officials said. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 people have been rescued by the security forces over the past five days, said officials.
"From tomorrow (Sunday) onwards, Jammu and Kashmir will have clear weather for the next one week. As the system has already started weakening, we can safely say the worst is over," the Indo- Asian News Service quoted Sonam Lotus, director of the Met Office in Jammu, as saying.
Both the Chenab river and the Tawi river in Jammu region of Indian-controlled Kashmir were flowing above the danger mark Saturday morning.
For the first time in the history of the state, the three bridges on Tawi river were closed for traffic after they were declared unsafe for travel, officials said.
On Thursday, a bus with over 70 people fell into a river in Jammu region, killing most passengers aboard.