Schools and colleges were on Sunday ordered closed for two days in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] where the flood situation worsened with six persons dead and thousands marooned after incessant downpours inundated low-lying areas and water levels of major rivers rose sharply.

The army and air force were put on standby for flood relief and closure of schools and colleges ordered by Chief Minister Ghulam [Images] Nabi Azad who convened a special Cabinet meeting to review the grim flood situation.

Incessant rains have spawned floods and cut off Kashmir Valley from the rest of the country for the third consecutive day as traffic on Srinagar-Jammu and Srinagar-Leh National highways remained suspended due to landslides.

Over 2,000 passengers were stranded at various places on the arterial roads while 1,500 were marooned at Chatel village in Kulgam district after flood waters entered their locality.

Six members of a family, including two women and two children, were killed when their house collapsed due to rains in Kathua district. One was rescued from the debris.

Another 200 people including 100 patients were evacuated after flood waters entered Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar [Images] and shifted to Soura Medical Institute.

The river Jhelum was flowing 9 feet above the danger mark at Sangam in Anantnag, submerging parts of Awantipora and Charsoo, and had crossed the red mark at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar by 4 ft, inundating Kursoo Rajbagh, Padshahibagh, Soiteng and Lasjan, officials said.

The water level of the Dal Lake was also rising, posing a threat to Nishat, Shalimar, Brain and adjoining areas.