Srinagar, Sep 2 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir administration has sounded a flood alert in the entire valley following incessant rains over the past three days with the state's main river Jhelum flowing over the danger mark Saturday.

The flood waters have already over flown the river embankments and submerged several low lying areas in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and in the summer capital Srinagar.

The Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been closed for traffic after floodwaters submerged a portion of it.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had to cut short his Leh visit and returned to Srinagar Saturday. Immediately after his arrival here, Azad visited Anantnag along with senior officials.

He asked officials to shift people from the submerged areas in to government schools and offices.

Azad asked the officials and staff of the flood control department, health and police to be available round the clock to monitor the situation and report to him directly.

"A close watch is being kept on the situation and we are ready to meet any eventuality," Kashmir divisional commissioner Basharat Dhar told IANS.

He said thousands of sand bags have been rushed to the flood prone areas. "We have also dispatched boats to evacuate people from the affected areas."