Eighteen foot-bridges were washed away and four suspension bridges developed cracks due to flash floods in Leh district of Ladakh on Wednesday.

The flash floods were spawned by an unprecedented rise in temperatures that led to melting of ice in the upper reaches.

The rise in the mercury from 24 to 35 degrees Celsius in the past week has led to melting of the glacier in the upper reaches of the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] resulting in the flooding of streams and canals in the district, Leh Development Commissioner Satish Nehru told PTI.

Sutlej recedes; flood threat wanes

"There used to be progressive increase in the mercury earlier and the water level in streams remained normal, but there has been sudden rise in day temperatures over the past one week," he said.

He said irrigation works had been damaged at many places and agriculture fields in some areas were flooded.

Five houses were also damaged due to the flash floods, he said.

The district administration has raised retention walls at many places to save crops and other areas.

1 dead, 14 trapped in flooded tunnel

Reports from Doda district said a footbridge, huts and cattle sheds were submerged at Bagliar project in Ramban area due to the rising of waters in the Chenab.

Project authorities and police were on alert to deal with any situation and the labourers of the project had been shifted to safer places.

An alert has been sounded in areas of the dam site that could be submerged if the water level rises further.