The flood situation has deteriorated in Jammu and Kashmir. The death toll in the worst flood that hit the state in the last 50 years has risen to 116.
While 106 people lost their lives in Jammu region, ten were killed in the Kashmir Valley.
A Home Ministry release said in New Delhi that 2,325 villages have been affected by the deluge, of which nearly 350 villages are submerged. A large number of houses have been destroyed and road and bridges damaged.
Flood waters have entered many areas of Srinagar after river Jhelum breached its embankment at Kandi Zal in Pulwama district.
Rescue and Relief operations are in full swing.
Services of Army, Air Force, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been requisitioned.
22 IAF Helicopters and 4 Aircraft have been deployed for evacuating the stranded population and providing necessary relief support.
130 Army Columns and 8 teams of NDRF with necessary equipment such as boats, satellite phones, life jackets are in position.
They have so far rescued nearly 11 thousand people. Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps helicopters airlifted 108 BSF and Army men from forward Border Out Posts in Jammu sector yesterday as floods have badly hit security infrastructure along Indo-Pak border.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for the state to review the flood situation. He will undertake an aerial survey of the flood affected areas.
Mr Modi also held a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and other senior officials in the Prime Minister's office in New Delhi last evening to assess the situation.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also briefed the Prime Minister about the situation. Mr Singh and Union Minister Jitendra Singh yesterday conducted aerial survey of flood affected areas.
Cabinet Secretary also chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee to review the rescue and relief operations in the state.
At the meeting, instructions were given to extend all possible help to the State government for quick relief to the affected people. To coordinate efforts, round the clock Control Room is operational in the Home Ministry.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said air-lifting of marooned people will begin today if weather improves. He said helicopters are on standby at Jammu and Srinagar for the purpose.
Meanwhile, Vaishno Devi Yatra remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day today in view of heavy rains and landslides.
A shrine board spokesman said, the pilgrimage will resumed only after the weather conditions improves. Yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine was suspended from the Katra base camp keeping in view the safety of pilgrims.
