Jammu and Kashmir floods: Relief for stranded as mobile links restored
10 Sep 2014 5:44 AM GMT
Disaster management authority received hundreds of calls from across Karnataka
Five tonnes of ready-to-eat food packets were dispatched to flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir by the DFRL in Mysore. (Photo: DC )
Bengaluru: Four days after the worst-ever floods to hit Jammu and Kashmir in the last 60 years, the state disaster management authority has found that around 549 citizens from Karnataka were stranded in various parts of the state. Among these, around 75 have confirmed that they are safe, 14 people have reached Amritsar while 12 people reached Delhi safely,’ informed officials.
According to Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials, with mobile service almost restored in the valley, those who are still trapped are communicable and everyone from the state is safe. Many who were stranded started calling back their relatives by Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Venkatanayarayana, former editor of the Kannada Prabha daily whose relatives were out of mobile reach since Saturday afternoon, finally called their family back on Tuesday afternoon. “They informed us that they were safe. They were going to New Delhi on one of the special flights arranged by the union government and would return to the city in two or three days,” he said. “Earlier in the day I had spoken to union minister Mr. Ananth Kumar’s family, who had assured us of locating relatives by evening. They were able to contact us as mobile service was restored in the valley state,” he said.
“Rain continued even on Tuesday. That was one issue which made us worry,” he said.
According to the disaster management authority officials, they have received hundreds of calls from across Karnataka inquiring about stranded people from the state. Mr. Nataraj GL and Mrs. Anitha Nataraj from Rajajinagar of Bengaluru city who had gone on a sight-seeing trip on September 4 are still stranded. 11 tourists from Gulbarga who had gone to J&K for Vaishnodevi yatra, were also stuck.
Mr. Raghavendra Prasad and Ms. Nandini, a couple who had visited Kashmir on September 6 for their honeymoon, were stranded as well. Mr. Prasad, who called his home on Tuesday, informed his family that he was safe and that army personnel had evacuated them. “Three others from Nanjanagud of Mysore are still stranded and the state team, which has set up a makeshift office at Srinagar, is trying to reach all those who are trapped with the help of the local authorities,” informed an officer from the revenue department.
Other channels: Even before the state government sent its team to Srinagar, city residents had already tried to rescue their relatives through alternative channels.
‘We will always be grateful’
Mr. Gururaj and Dr. Mothi said they will visit Kashmir valley again after flood situation eases and extend their help in every possible way. “It’s because of a few Kashmiris that we managed to come out unhurt. So, we will offer help in the restoration of displaced. We have already sent a large consignment of emergency medicines and 100 blankets towards relief.”
‘Rescued doctor offers help’
62-year-old Dr. S.N. Mothi, renowned paediatrician in Mysore, recalls what a lucky escape it was. He says, “On September 5th, we checked into Sindhu River-side resort and the river was already flowing at danger level.
“However, the resort staff assured us that nothing would happen. We first sensed trouble on the morning of September 6 when a cloud burst was reported in Sonmarg. We could see multiple landslides, trees uprooting and water pouring into the river from a great height. We packed our stuff and vacated the resort at 6.30 am and within a hour we learnt that half of the resort where we stayed had been washed away!
( Source : dc correspondent )
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