Aided by a dry spell, the Army maximized their air-lift operations rescuing close to 22,000 flood-stricken people including around 2,000 from Srinagar alone, even as fatalities increased to 175 with 27 people killed by landslide in remote Pancheri village in Udhampur district on Monday. A higher death toll is feared with scores of people trapped in areas isolated by landslips in Jammu region.
Naval and marine commandoes were deployed for the first time on Monday as water levels remained steadily high hampering distribution of relief supplies. Desperate people were seen huddled on rooftops in Srinagar as they tried to escape the worst flooding in decades.
In Srinagar, tourists in hotels are trapped along the Boulevard and Lal Chowk while residents remain fenced in on the top floors and attics of their houses at Jawahar Nagar, Raj Bagh, Indra Nagar, Wazir Bagh, Gogji Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Shivpora areas of the capital city. Most of the houses and the city hospitals remained submerged upto two floors.
Worse, there was a complete breakdown of telecommunication network with both mobile phone and landline links paralyzed. Army, reports said, began airlifting communication and BSNL loads to Srinagar to restore connectivity.
Power supply remain disrupted in both Jammu & Kashmir regions, with hospitals bearing the brunt of the crisis.
IAF deployed 45 choppers and transport aircrafts which made numerous sorties as relief work was extended to south Kashmir. The rescued included 1,400 Army personnel and their families caught in the swirling flood waters in Badamibagh Cantt area.
"We are facing big problem of communication as all links are down," said NDRF chief OP Singh. "We're unable to communicate with our teams on the ground. Also, as water level is high in many places, our personnel are unable to reach the stranded," he added.
In Poonch, five people were reported missing, the worst hit district where flash floods paralyzed road connectivity and rendered the entire district powerless and without potable water. "Close to 1,000 cattle have perished in Jammu," an official said.
Meanwhile, sources said some 40 people are still trapped at Saddal village in Pancheri, about 55 km from Udhampur, after a massive landslide which took place during heavy rain last evening.
"About 20-25 houses came under the debris and nearly 35 persons have been feared dead," they added. As per reports seven dead bodies have been recovered yesterday during rescue cum search operations. "The site of the tragedy is under a deep blanket of boulders and sludge, making it very difficult to retrieve bodies manually," he said, adding, "There is no road to the area as the village is about four km trek from main Saddal village of Panchat Panjar in Udhampur."
Defence spokesperson Northern command Col S D Goswami said, "The IAF launched massive rescue and relief operation in the flood affected area of Jammu & Kashmir after flash flooding were caused in state due to incessant rains since September 3."
Col Goswamni said, "Deployed for the first time in the ongoing devastating flood situation in J&K, the Naval Marine Commandos rescued around 200 personnel at marooned Haigaon on Srinagar-Sopore highway. "Rescue efforts are now continuing near Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, he said adding, "additionally, Naval Diving Teams are also standby at New Delhi, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for the rescue efforts. A medical team is standby at Delhi for immediate deployment."
"Deployed army columns have build up to 212 and approximately 22,000 people have been evacuated so far, including 2000 persons from Srinagar city and adjoining areas," army spokesperson said.
Army has deployed 205 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations. "65 Medical Teams and 15 Engineer Task Forces(ETFs) are deployed and airlifting of 04 additional ETFs and 10 Medical Teams is underway," he added. "The Army also distributed 23,000 litres of water and 600 kilograms biscuits in the flood-affected areas, while, 60 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have also swung into action," Col Goswami said.
He further added that relief operations are continuing with unabated intensity. 83 Tons of Emergency rations, 3000 blankets, 45,000 liters of potable water, 1000 life jackets and 220 Tents are also being airlifted from Chandigarh, Pathankot and Kanpur as a part of ongoing Megh Rahat Operations across the state.
Appreciating Indian Air Force (IAF) significant role in Megh Rahat Operation, he said, "1245 people have been airlifted by the Indian Air Force helicopters and transport aircraft. "So far 140 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Indian Air Force and 155 tonnes of relief materials are dropped by the Indian Air Force, he added. "Today, the engineer task force is being rushed from New Delhi to the flood affected areas to supplement the rescue operation, he said.
The buildup of troops and rescue materials will continue in view of the impending task at hand. All available army aviation recourses have been pressed into service.
Pertinently flash flooding situation caused in state due to incessant rains since 03 September worsened when river Jhelum already flowing few meters above danger line, breached its banks at number of places in highly populated areas of Srinagar town.
Over night the water level rose to 15 to 18 feet submerging thousands of houses in the areas of Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Shivpora and Indranagar and so much so that almost half of the Badami Bagh Cantonment of Srinagar was similarly affected.
Meanwhile to cater to the people being evacuated from Srinagar, makeshift relief camps have been created inside Badami Bagh Cantonment and the services of 92 Base Hospital Srinagar are being utilized. The weather being clear, a number of helicopters were also pressed into action to transport rescue and relief materials to the isolated areas of south Kashmir.
Monday 8 September 2014
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/27-dead-in-landslide-toll-swells-to-143-in-JK-floods/articleshow/42042920.cms
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