Jammu & Kashmir floods updates

Srinagar, Sept 8: Jammu and Kashmir, hit by severe floods, is facing one of the worst natural disasters in its history. The prime minister has called it a "national-level disaster." Around 150 people have been killed in the floods and heavy rains in the state so far.

Reports suggest that many people are still missing. Around 15,000 people had been rescued till Sunday evening, said a report.

Over 2,000 people have been shifted to relief camps. More than 200 army personnel have been deployed.

"I appeal to people to not panic, I know the circumstances are bad but request them to stay on upper floors. We promise to reach them. 40 to 50 boats will be sent to Srinagar. Choppers are ready, planes also on standby" said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

These are the state helpline numbers: Delhi J&K House - 011 24611210 and 24611108; Srinagar - 0194-2452138; Jammu - 0191-2560401

Anybody seeking assistance related to the flood crisis in J&K can also approach Home Ministry's control room in New Delhi at the telephone numbers: (011) 23093054, 23092763, 23093564, 23092923, 23092885, 23093566, 23093563.

Follow more updates on the disaster here:

10.45 pm: Damage to border fencing raises security concerns.

9.30 pm: UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon offers assistance to India and Pakistan.

8.25 pm: Digvijay, Azad Praise Modi's 'Quick' Response to J&K Floods.

8.00 pm: "Relief work has picked up in the past two days in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir and rescue work will not stop till every trapped person is evacuated", the army commander said.

7.35 pm: 90 towers of 3G telecom service have started functioning in Kashmir Valley while 10 VSAT systems are being air lifted to restore critical communication towers.

7.25 pm: Lakhs of people still remain stranded in the Valley where massive rescue operations were underway.

6.45 pm: There is no possibility of heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir over the next three days, the MET department says.

6.30 pm: On social media, The hashtag #Kashmirfloods is connecting all those who are looking for various avenues to donate, to share, to find their loved ones or to applaud rescue operation missions by the army.

6.15 pm: Diversified business conglomerate Mahindra Group pledged Rs 2 crore to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for relief efforts in flood ravaged Jammu & Kashmir.

5.45 pm: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore to the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

5.30 pm: Army officials say, "South Kashmir cut off from other regions of the state. Badamibagh cantonment is still submerged."

5.00 pm: Water level shows no sign of receding.

4.30 pm: One of the residents of Rambagh told a TV channel that "volunteers are helping and not the state government".

4.00 pm: Srinagar residents await help as many stranded.

3.35 pm: "We should not connect the natural disaster and tragedy with either elections or politics. The Election Commission will take a decision and they are the ultimate decision makers in that regard," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said when asked if the flood disaster would have any bearing on the forthcoming polls.

3.30 pm: Mobiles went on the blink as private telecom service providers said their towers were badly damaged.

3:20 pm: Bridge across river Tawi collapses

Watch Times Now video here:

Watch: Bridge across river Tawi collapses as floods hit Jammu and Kashmir: http://t.co/SMEdu1OlPR #KashmirFloods

— TIMES NOW (@timesnow) September 8, 2014

3.10 pm: Hundreds of people have logged on to social networking sites likes Facebook and Twitter to share information on floods, which have created havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, and are even collecting aid for the victims.

3.05 pm: Army rescues 1400 of its personnel and their families caught in flood waters in its headquarters at Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar.

3:00 pm: Over 200 stranded people rescued by Navy commandos on the Srinagar-Sopore Highway

2:40 pm: No border outposts affected by the floods: Rajnath Singh

2:33 pm: Indian Army will not move back to the barracks till the last man is brought to safety: Army Chief, Gen Dalbir Singh

2:30 pm: Home Minister Rajnath Singh says it is difficult to forecast natural calamities

1:45 pm: Fresh landslides in Udhampur

1: 30 pm: Red Cross to collaborate in airlifting stranded people, say sources

1:20 pm: Bad communication lines and rising flood waters worry rescuers

12:46 pm: ISRO releases RISAT images of flooded areas

Latest #RISAT1 image of #KashmirFloods affected areas. pic.twitter.com/cgtNO2cbKH

— ISRO (@isro) September 8, 2014

12:10 pm: Hashtag #kashmirfloods trending on Twitter; People searching for stranded relatives resorts to Twitter

11:55 am: Efforts on to restore communication lines in Kashmir.

11:30 am: Water 12 feet deep in many parts of Srinagar

10:15 am: Six NDRF teams with boats and relief material airlifted from 4 cities

10:10 am: PM announces Rs 1000 Cr special assistance for the state

9:35 am: Vaishno Devi Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir resumes after four days of suspension

9:00 am: Home Ministry to provide 150 additional boats

8:55 am: Thousands await rescue relief in various parts of the state, Srinagar still under water

8:30 am: Intense relief mission underway in J&K, Home ministry sends special team to inspect the operations

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