Jammu and Kashmir floods: Massive rescue operations on, lakhs still stranded in Srinagar

Srinagar/Jammu: Mammoth multi-agency rescue efforts are underway in Jammu and Kashmir to rescue lakhs of people trapped in flood-ravaged areas, with IAF choppers and transport aircraft undertaking non-stop sorties overnight to carry men and relief material to submerged parts.

Rescue teams will be focusing on the inundated city of Srinagar and south Kashmir belt where an estimated four lakh people are believed to be trapped in floods which have claimed nearly 200 lives in the state.

Two more units of Army and NDRF have been airdropped to Pancheri in Udhampur where 30 people are missing after a landslide hit the area.

Read: Heavy rains unlikely in Jammu and Kashmir over next 3 days: MET dept

"Seven bodies and a limb of a person have been so far recovered in Udhampur but the operation to locate those trapped is very difficult," DIG Garib Das said.

Flood affected villagers salvage their belongings on the outskirts of Jammu (Photo: AP)

However, the situation in the rest of Jammu belt has stabilised and the focus is now on providing relief material on the ground, officials said.

They said a massive rescue and relief operation is on in Kashmir Valley with more helicopters and rescue material including boats pressed into service.

30 sorties of IL-76 and AN 32 have been undertaken to Srinagar overnight to carry men and relief material, boats cutters and other equipment besides huge quantity of medicines and water bottles.

Speaking about the rescue efforts, Army Lt Chetan said, "We are rescuing 10-15 people in every round we make per boat. We make 50-60 rounds per day. We have all equipment to rescue people. We will move out only after rescuing everybody".

A woman pleads to an army officer to rescue her family members after she was airlifted by the army from her flooded neighbourhood to the Air Force base in Srinagar (Photo: AP)

Army Chief Gen Dalbir Suhag had said in Delhi on Monday that "Soldiers won't return to barracks until last man is helped."

Army medical officer Jagdish Singh said, "We have set up medical camps and are treating 230-300 people everyday.

Read: Jammu and Kashmir floods: Centre despatches more boats, NDRF teams for rescue operations

"We have ambulances and surgeons. District hospitals and NGOs are also working with us," he said.

Lt Gen D S Hooda, General-Officer-Commanding of the Army's Northern Command had said yesterday that the focus will be now on Srinagar.

Air Force planes from Chandigarh have also flown NDRF, Army and Air Force personnel to the flood-affected areas in Kashmir, which has witnessed worst floods in decades.

Flood affected villagers salvage their belongings on the outskirts of Jammu (Photo: AP)

The giant transport aircraft IL-76 has airlifted close to 100 tonne of load.

Meanwhile, a Meteorological Department official here said that the recent heavy rains in Kashmir Valley were caused due to two different weather systems converging to build up as one massive system.

Read: Flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir unprecedented: CM Omar Abdullah

The Western Disturbances and monsoon currents from a Low Pressure Area, which moved from Bay of Bengal towards J&K a few days back, converged as one big weather system causing heavy downpour, the official said.

A fresh Western Disturbance was slowly originating from the Caspian Sea and over the next couple of days, it will become known if the WD will hit Jammu and Kashmir or pass well above.

The official also said that a weather system was currently active over Gujarat, which may cause heavy rains in some parts of the state.

Watch: Nearly 175 dead as Jammu and Kashmir witnesses worst floods in 50 years