Jammu and Kashmir government tonight sounded an alert after water level in the Jhelum river continued to rise due to incessant rains that have been lashing the Kashmir Valley for entire day today.

A government spokesman said that people living on the banks of the river Jhelum have been asked to remain alert and vigilant. Old persons and children have also been advised to move to safer places or camps that have been established in the Valley.

The spokesman quoted a communication from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, which said, "Water levels of river Jhelum on 29-03-2015 at 2100 hrs at Sangam (South Kashmir) and Ram Munshi Bagh (Srinagar city) have touched 18'.4 feet and 16'.0 feet respectively."



He said all the employees deployed for flood control duty have been asked to report to their duties immediately.

If the water level breaches 23 feet mark, the state will have to undertake a massive rescue operations and evacuate people from areas adjoining the river.