Jhelum river on Monday crossed danger level in Srinagar and Sangam area of South Kashmir with heavy rains lashing most parts of the state, which sounded an alert asking people to move to safer places.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared floods in parts of Kashmir valley as the water levels in the Jhelum rose steeply in last 12 hours.

The government has advised people living near the banks of the Jhelum and in the low lying areas of the valley to shift to safer places.

Jammu and Kashmir, JK floods, J&K floods, Kashmir floods, River Jhelum, Jhelum flood An Indian paramilitary soldier walks through a flooded street following heavy rains in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, March 29, 2015. Heavy rains have been reported in several parts of the Kashmir valley.

A senior official said water level of river Jhelum at 6 am at Sangam (South Kashmir) and Ram Munshi Bagh (Srinagar city) has touched 22'.4 feet and 18'.8 feet respectively. Danger level at Sangam is 21 feet and at Ram Munshi Bagh it is 18 feet.

At Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar, the water level at 6 am has been recorded at 18.55 feet which is slightly higher than the flood alert level. The government has advised people living near Jhelum banks and inn the low lying areas of the valley to shift to safer places.

The incessant rains have triggered panic across Kashmir as waterlogging has closed many roads for traffic movement. The flash floods in rural Kashmir has also damaged bridges and road infrastructure and caused panic in the valley.

- Manohar