Jammu and Kashmir floods: 4 lakh still marooned, Army steps up rescue ops
New Delhi/Srinagar: The Army is worried over hurling of stones and glass bottles by local residents, and has directed rescue teams on boats to carry weapons in case of any eventuality.
Describing the situation in the Valley as “very serious,” chief minister Omar Abdullah said he understood the anger of people affected by the “unprecedented” catastrophe.
Over 76,500 persons have so far been rescued by the armed forces and the NDRF from different parts of the state in the ongoing rescue and relief operations there, while aviation regulator DGCA acted fast on Wednesday to ensure that airlines do not hike fares to and from Srinagar in the wake of the massive destruction due to floods.
Read: J&K floods: Over 80,000 rescued, Army says will continue to work through 'day and night'
The DGCA on Wednesday asked all airlines to cap the fares on the Srinagar-Delhi and Leh-Delhi sectors to Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,000. After a DGCA directive, about 500 students stranded in Leh will be brought back free of cost by the airlines, which will operate special flights.
The Army, meanwhile, has to battle Pakistan-backed terrorists near the Line of Control in Kashmir as well, while carrying out flood relief efforts in the hinterland.
Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir floods: Death toll touches 200, it's the worst in a century, says CM
The Army said it killed three militants in a fierce battle in the Kishangarh Ridge near the LoC in the Keran sector of North Kashmir, which has escaped severe floods.
Delhi: PM Narendra Modi holds emergency meeting to review flood situation in J&K pic.twitter.com/BYDLTlwkYZ
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 10, 2014During its rescue operations, the Army on also airlifted a pregnant woman to its base hospital in Srinagar, and the woman later gave birth to a baby boy.
Despite the Army and NDRF taking 29,000 people to safety on Wednesday, four lakh people are still waiting for help.
Read: Floods to delay Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls
PM directed Home Ministry to send high-level teams of officials to coordinate and comprehensively ramp-up relief operations in Srinagar.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 10, 2014