Around 1 lakh people in flood-hit Kashmir Valley were evacuated so far in rescue operations as authorities on Thursday shifted focus to relief supplies to lakhs of stranded victims and prepared to combat possible spread of waterborne diseases with flood waters receding.
With many stranded people reluctant to leave their homes, authorities said they are concentrating more on providing them food and water.
As a tragedy of epic proportions unfolded in the worst-ever floods to hit Kashmir in 109 years after heavy rains from September 2, the death toll was stated to be around 250. Authorities fear that the number of dead could be higher.
“Around one lakh people have been rescued so far by the armed forces and National Disaster Response Force from different parts of J and K in the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the state till today, PRO Defence, Col S D Goswami said.
In Srinagar, the water level has gone down from its peak level by about six feet but there is still substantive flooding in certain areas within the town itself, army said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said there are less people seeking to be evacuated and that more and more people were actually getting angry seeing empty boats. Therefore, he said authorities have reoriented their mission to ensure that more and more boats carry relief supplies to the people.
LT Gen Subrata Saha also stated that some people were reluctant to leave their homes. GOC-in-C Lt Gen D S Hooda said rescue personnel will also focus on sending relief supplies like food, water and medicines. “What we are seeing now is that water level is going down in certain areas but people are reluctant to leave their houses and therefore from today and tomorrow what we are going to focus is apart from rescue operations from some areas, we are also going to be sending food, water etc. and some medical supplies to people who want to stay at home,” the senior army officer said.
Lt Gen Subrata Saha also stated that some people were reluctant to leave their homes. “Over a period of time we are noticing a cycle. In that people are getting evacuated in the morning and some are getting back to their homes in the afternoon and this is pretty understandable because they want to go back and look after their stuff. They want to get food and supplies and get back to their houses,” he said.
He said there was a bit of inundation in North Kashmir, also and 1,171 have been evacuated in overnight operations. “In south Kashmir, I am happy to tell you that the evacuation process is virtually zero,” he said.
With floodwaters slowly receding in Srinagar, authorities were also bracing for potential spread of water-borne diseases like diarrhea. Twenty per cent of the water supply has been restored in the Valley and efforts were underway on a war footing to restore road and telecom links.
“Twenty per cent of the water supply has been restored and telecom services restored partially. Efforts are on to clear the roads,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Rohit Kansal said.
Meanwhile, voicing solidarity with the victims of the Jammu and Kashmir floods, jawans and officers of border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal have decided to contribute their one day’s salary to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund.
“We have decided to pledge our one day’s salary for the victims. The amount comes to about Rs 2 crore. These funds will be deposited in the PM’s National Relief Fund soon,” SSB chief B D Sharma said.
