Relief operations in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir were briefly hampered on Sunday due to rains even as the Armed forces and NDRF rescued another 60,000 people trapped in flood waters in Kashmir Valley.
Over 1 lakh people are still marooned several days after the worst floods in the State in a century unleashed a trail of death and destruction.
Mild rainfall occurred in many parts of the Valley on Sunday morning, triggering fears about more trouble in the area which is already reeling under the devastation caused by incessant rains last week.
However, the rainfall which started at around 8.30 a.m. stopped within an hour.
In view of the rainfall and dense clouds, IAF halted its flights to ferry relief supplies even though emergency operations of transporting medicines were maintained, IAF officials said, adding normal relief operations by IAF choppers resumed at 11.15 a.m.Srinagar SDM Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said that inclement weather will create problems as many people re still on the roads and without shelter.
At some places, people are putting up in tents which are not waterproof, he said.
IMD director B.P. Yadav said, “There was mild rainfall in the morning. But, we have not issued any warning. There would be no heavy rainfall in the State today.”
Continuing their rescue operations for the 13th day, armed forces and NDRF personnel rescued another 60,000 people caught in flood waters in Kashmir Valley since Saturday.
“Armed Forces and NDRF have so far rescued over 2 lakh persons from different parts of J&K in the ongoing rescue and Relief operations,” a senior Army officer told PTI.
Of these, 1.20 lakh people have been rescued by Army alone, the officer said, adding the operation is going on.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said on Saturday that as per the figures available with the state government so far, 129 people had lost lives in Jammu region whereas 30-35 people were found dead in Kashmir Valley.
According to unofficial estimates, the death roll was around 250.
The Army officer said that suction pumps and other engineering equipment from Vishakhapatnam have reached the flood affected areas for relief work.12 sewage pumps from Delhi have also been dispatched to the Valley.
Also, 30 generator sets of 3 to 5 KVA capacity have been sent to Srinagar to provide continuous power supply in relief camps and field hospitals, the officer said.
Thirteen tonnes of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day have also reached Srinagar.
Besides these, as many as 8,200 blankets and 1,119 tents have been provided to the flood victims, he said, adding, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services are operating in full swing.
Four field hospitals have been established in Avantipur, Pattan, Anantnag and Old Airfield where medical aid is being provided to the ailing people, he said, adding that till now, they have treated more than 22,500 patients.
Military medical services from Bathinda have also been shifted to Srinagar, he said, adding that about 10 tonnes of medicines and other health care material, including mobile oxygen generation plant, have reached Srinagar from Delhi.
More relief material, including blankets and tents, water bottles from IRCTC and food packets, are being airlifted from Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Amritsar, he said.
Armed forces personnel are distributing water bottles and food packets on a large scale, he said, adding, that till now, more than 4,00,000 litres of water, 1,31,500 food packets and over 800 tonnes cooked food have been airdropped and distributed in the flood-affected areas.25 tonnes of Indian gram (channa) from NAFED is also being transported to the flood affected areas, he said.
Armed Forces have also established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu region.
“In Srinagar region, camps were established at BB Cantt, Avantipur, Old Airfield, Sumbal, Chattargam and Jijamata Mandir, where thousands of rescued people are being sheltered,” the spokesperson said.
To restore road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5700 personnel, have been deployed in Srinagar, Rajouri and Akhnoor, he said.
As of now, they have restored the road connectivity from Batote-Kishtwar, Kishtwar-Anantnag and Jammu-Poonch.
On the Jammu-Srinagar highway, BRO personnel have cleared the road up to Ramsu, he said.
