Jammu and Kashmir is battling one of the worst floods in decades with rivers in the region in spate due to days of incessant rain. Nearly 200 people have died and thousands are stranded across the state, including Srinagar. The Army and NDRF have launched a massive rescue mission, airlifting the affected people to safety. State-run Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited and private chopper firms join multi-agency rescue and relief efforts in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, as Air India kept two aircraft on stand-by to carry passengers and relief materials whenever required. Uttarakhand government offers expertise, logistics and financial assistance of Rs 10 crore for flood-hit people of Jammu and Kashmir.02:10 pm: A Korean couple and a retired Army Major General were among 310 people rescued by Chandigarh-based 12 Wing of the Indian Air Force, which has been conducting non-stop sorties during the past three days to evacuate people from flooded areas of Srinagar. Odisha Government announces an assistance of Rs 5 crore from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund for flood ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. It said trained personnel are ready with equipment to undertake rescue and relief operations in affected areas. 01:50 pm: Jammu and Kashmir government has directed all deputy commissioners in the districts to assess the damages. 01:20 pm: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy deputes Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to coordinate efforts to bring home Malayali tourists stranded in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir. A US national was among seven foreigners rescued by the Army and Air Force from flood-hit north Kashmir. GoC Lt Gen Subrata Saha: Rescue operations continued throughout the night and 996 people were evacuated from the marooned areas from 8 pm last night to 6 am.12:05 pm: Two teams of NDRF equipped with 30 boats reached Srinagar as the force launched intensive operations to rescue people marooned and stranded by floods and rising waters. 11:40 am: Two more units of Army and NDRF have been airdropped to Pancheri in Udhampur where 30 people are missing after a landslide hit the area.11:20 am: A total of 10,470 people have been rescued by the NDRF till now as over 150 boats and other critical equipment has been lowered down in the flood affected areas.10:50 am: Nearly 1,500 trucks carrying essential supplies to Jammu and Kashmir were stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway as sections of the road were washed away in the flash floods, cutting off the Valley from the rest of the country. 10:40 am: The local television and radio stations in Valley remained off air and there was patchy telecom connectivity between the Valley and the rest of the country. Over 2,000 houses in the Jammu region have become uninhabitable as these have been completely or partially damaged. The weather was dry in the Jammu region on Tuesday morning, which is likely to facilitate rescue by the Army and other security forces. Flood fury maintained its grip over Jammu and Kashmir leaving 200 dead and many marooned. Many houses collapsed in Old Srinagar City. Flood waters have entered in Qamarwari, Shaheed Gunj, Zainakadal and Kaksarai areas of Jammu. 09:16 am: In old Srinagar city, trapped residents are standing on roof top of their houses and asking help from the administration. Jhelum river and its tributaries continued to spill over and the flood waters moving with a high speed have breached Barbar Shah bund in Srinagar. Water level has not decreased in Kashmir Valley particularly in Srinagar. The average water level is between 8 ft to 15 ft in different areas. Worst affected areas are Rajbagh and Jawahar Nagar area where water level is between 10 ft to 15 ft. Habba Kadal, Khanyar, Basant Bagh, Maisuma, Karan Nagar, Shaeedgunj and Safakadal are the worst affected areas in Old Srinagar City. Rescue operations have been launched in Natipura and Nowgam areas. More water boats are needed in the Kashmir Valley for rescue teams. Watch video08:20 am: A 10-member team of central government officials, headed by Joint Secretary (Disaster Management) in the Union Home Ministry GVV Sarma, is camping in Srinagar and coordinating rescue and relief operations with all concerned and extending emergency support facility to the local administration. Army, Air Force, NDRF and state agencies have so far rescued more than 25,000 people and lodged them in higher places in the valley. The official said that air connectivity to Srinagar and Jammu are normal while train lines up to Udhampur are expected to be operationalised soon. 08:08 am: Nine fixed wing aero planes consisting IL-76, AN-32, C-130 and 29 helicopters have been pressed into service. Government is also making effort for the restoration of the power connection in the Valley and deploying people for the task. The authorities are also planning to deploy heavy duty pumps to drain out flood water in some of the low lying areas in Srinagar city. 90 towers of 3G telecom service have started functioning in Kashmir Valley while 10 VSAT systems are being air lifted to restore critical communication towers. The Centre has directed free flow of transport via Manali and Leh to Srinagar, the only available surface network. BSNL is air lifting new equipment from Jammu to Srinagar so that partially mobile service can be restored. The Home Ministry is also airlifting thousands of bottles of drinking water and blankets to Jammu and Kashmir to be distributed among the flood-affected people as there is shortage of potable water and woollens. The three highways connecting Kashmir with Jammu have been badly hit and the Border Roads Organisation has assessed the damage and conveyed that it will take at least five to seven days for their restoration. Railways is also transporting rake load of bottled water and sachet water to Jammu. Packets of biscuits and ready to eat food have been rushed in last night with further supplies carried to the Valley for distribution.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:20:21 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015