Srinagar, July 23 -- Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir remained in the grip of a prolonged wet spell for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday, with heavy rainfall triggering cloudbursts, flash floods, rising river levels, rescue operations and widespread disruption across the Union Territory. While the River Jhelum crossed the flood declaration mark in Srinagar and the Chenab breached the flood alert level in Jammu, authorities activated flood response measures and urged the public not to panic.

The worst-hit area was Boniyar in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, where a cloudburst struck the upper reaches of Mayan village on Thursday afternoon, sending torrents of water, mud and boulders downstream.

Officials said flash floods washed away ...