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As flood response efforts move from rescue to relief and rehabilitation, Jammu and Kashmir government today announced a Rs 200 crore assistance package, first instalment of Rs 75,000 to the homeless for rebuilding homes and Rs 3.5 lakh ex-gratia for the kin of the dead.
According to latest reports, more than 1,25,000 people were rescued from the worst-ever floods to hit the state in 109 years. The relief package under which free rations will be also supplied for six months was unveiled by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as a shaken state government embarked on some decisive steps after coming under fire over the handling of the flood crisis.
The Supreme Court also stepped in asking the Centre to apprise it on Monday on the urgent steps undertaken to accelerate rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations, observing that "a calamity and disaster" as huge as the one witnessed in floods in Jammu and Kashmir "deserves national response".
As the flood waters receded in Srinagar and other towns in the Valley, civil and military rescue personnel were expediting efforts to reach out to tens of thousands of people still stranded since torrential rains pounded the state on September 2.
Addressing a press conference at the airport, Omar said no estimate could be given on the exact death toll now because the situation was still fluid. However, as the magnitude of the disaster unfolded, officials yesterday said the death toll was around 250.
Omar also said he has called an All Party meeting on Saturday to discuss the situation. "We will seek suggestions from other parties to improve the relief and rescue operations in the state," he said, adding," giving relief to people is an enormous challenge."
Of the Rs 200 crore assistance announced from the state's distress relief fund, the Chief Minister said Rs 100 crore will be given to each of the two provinces -- Jammu and Kashmir.
"We want this to be paid in cash to the affected people like it was done during Uri earthquake in 2005 and Ladakh cloud burst," he said.
So far 1,379 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces, he said, adding that, 1,799 tonnes of relief materials were dropped by the Indian Air Force. A third batch of Naval Marine Commandos with rubberised inflatable craft (geminis), out board motors (OBMs), compressors, diving sets and satellite phones arrived at Srinagar on Thursday to support the rescue operations, the spokesman said.
Keeping in view of urgent requirement of more boats in the rescue operations, the army has deployed 90 more boats in Srinagar and adjoining areas, he said, adding, a total of 224 boats of Army and 148 NDRF's inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operations. 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, he said. Thirteen tonnes of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day, have already reached Srinagar, he said. Two water purification plants and 7 lakh chlorine tablets are being sent from Delhi, he said, adding, engineering stores including suction pumps from Vishakhapatnam are also being sent to the flood affected areas.
Communication equipment of Department of Telecommunication, Army, BSNL and some of private companies have been dispatched to restore the communication systems in the state, he said. To meet the immediate energy requirement, 22,000 litres of fuel from Ambala have been transported to the valley, he said.
To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of order Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been pressed into service, he said, adding, as of now, they have restored the road connectivity from Batote–Kishtwar, Kishtwar-Sinthan Pass and Sinthan Pass-Anantnag. Jammu-Poonch road has been cleared for traffic, he said, adding, on the Jammu–Srinagar highway, BRO personnel have cleared the road up to KM 172 (Ramsu).