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Jammu and Kashmir floods: Death toll touches 200, it's the worst in a century, says CM

Nation
DC Correspondent
10 Sep 2014 3:34 AM GMT
Nearly 43,000 people have so far been safely evacuated by army and other forces
Jammu and Kashmir floods: Death toll touches 200, its the worst in a century, says CM
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A Kashmiri youth is being evacuated. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: About four lakh people were still stranded and desperate for help on Tuesday in flood-ravaged Kashmir Valley where heavy rains have eased to help scale up the massive multi-agency rescue and relief efforts in which nearly 43,000 people have so far been safely evacuated.

As the miseries faced by people some of them perched on rooftops in the worst floods to hit Jammu and Kashmir in six decades unfolded, the death toll in the floods, landslides and house collapses triggered by torrential monsoon rains since Tuesday last was stated to be around 200.

Authorities were also trying to fix the telecommunication links snapped since Sunday afternoon on a war footing and hope to restore it in a phased manner.

“The big problem that is hampering rescue activities in the Valley is that telecom links have become dysfunctional. The telecom department is trying its best to restore the links quickly,” an official said.
Officials said shortage of boats was also affecting rescue operations.
A total of 61 IAF choppers and transport aircraft undertook 354 sorties non-stop overnight to carry men and relief material to submerged parts of the Valley where about one lakh troops were engaged in the rescue operations, defence spokesman Col. S.D. Goswami said in Jammu.

Officials said that an estimated four lakh people were believed to be still stranded in the aftermath of the floods. GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha said the weather condition is improving and the water level has receded in Srinagar and other towns in South Kashmir.

“The weather has cleared and the intensity of the helicopter operations has picked up. In Srinagar, the water level has receded by 1.5 to 3 feet at some places but we are noticing an increase in water level on the northern side,” he said.

The water level in Dal lake was also steadily rising. TV footage showed overflowing flood waters from Dal lake having entered the ground around Hazratbal shrine complex.

“A massive rescue and relief operations by the Indian Armed Forces, IAS and NDRF is on in J&K with more helicopters and rescue materials including boats pressed into service today”,
the defence spokesman said.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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