J & K floods: 2.26 lakh rescued, locals say army has been saviours but state government missing

Jammu: Over 2.26 lakh people have been rescued in Jammu and Kashmir so far as the rescue and relief operations in the flood-ravaged state entered 14th day on Monday.

"Armed Forces and NDRF have so far rescued over 2,26,000 persons from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing rescue and relief operations," Defence spokesperson Col S D Goswami said today.

Of these, 1.40 lakh people have been rescued by Army alone as the rescue and relief operations have entered 14th day, Goswami said.

Armed Forces had launched Mission Rahat in Jammu region while in Kashmir region Mission Sahayata was launched for rescue and relief operations.

Eighty transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps are continuing their efforts in rescue and relief operations, he said.

Army has deployed around 30,000 troops for rescue and relief operations, he said, adding, more than 5,08,000 litres of water and over 1,054 tonnes of food packets and cooked food have already been distributed in the flood-hit areas.

Over 33,000 blankets are being taken to the flood-affected areas today, which were donated by Ministry of Textile, Red Cross Society and the governments of Jharkhand and Punjab.

Read: J&K floods: A week on, 150,000 still stranded, Army steps up rescue operations

Earlier 8,200 blankets and 1,572 tents were provided to the flood victims, he said.

So far, 2,451 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces and 3,435 tonnes of relief materials have been dropped by the Indian Air Force, he said.

A total of 224 boats of Army and 148 NDRF's inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operations, Goswami said.

Armed Forces have established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu region, Goswami said.

In Srinagar region, camps were established at BB Cantt, Avantipur, Old Airfield, Sumbal, Chattargam and Jijamata Mandir, where thousands of rescued people are being sheltered, he said.

Goswami said the flood-hit people are also being provided with food and other basic amenities.

Restore road connectivity

To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been deployed in Srinagar, Rajouri and Akhnoor. They have restored the road connectivity from Batote to Bijbiara, he said.

The connectivity from Srinagar to Sonamarg has been opened for all traffic, while, between Srinagar and Baramulla the road has been opened for light vehicles, he said, adding, Jammu to Poonch road has been cleared for traffic too.

On the Jammu-Srinagar highway, BRO personnel have cleared the road up to 172 Kms (Ramsu) and work is in progress to clear fresh landslides in areas that were cleared earlier.

‘Army has been the saviour, state government missing,’ say locals

For the people of this hamlet situated barely a few kilometres from Jammu, it is the Army, which came as a saviour after the flash floods in river Tawi ravaged their homes.

Shammi Kumar, who along with his six family members is staying at a camp set up by Army at a government school for past one week, says, "My house was washed away in the flash floods in Tawi river last week.

"All has been washed away... nothing is left. It was the Army that came to our rescue and saved us," he told PTI.

Read: Don’t celebrate my birthday, stand united for J&K flood victims: Modi

The Army camp at the premises of Surya Chak Government High School is currently giving shelter to hundreds of flood-victims belonging to villages of Tawi Island, particularly Surya Chak, Rambagh, Laliyal, Nadwal, Phallian Mandal, Makwal, Raipur Satwari and other areas of Jammu.

"Army provided us with food and tents for shelter. We are indebted to them. Where is the state government that we have voted for?" Shammi asked.

Another camper Sukh Chand, a refugee from West Pakistan and resident of Laliyal, said, "Our houses have gone and all our household goods have been washed away. The paddy fields too have been destroyed."

"And yet the there is no focus on us. Are we not victims?" he asked.

Bailey bridge set up

Most of the flood victims also praised the Army for connecting the 45-hamlets on Tawi island, which had been completely cut-off for five days after the floods, with the rest of the Jammu city by setting up a 150-meter-long bailey bridge in just a day.

The bridge connecting Jammu with Tawi Island had been partly washed away. The Army engineers on September 10 set up the bailey bridge, which helped the villagers to commute to Jammu city.

"We are very happy that now we can start a normal life. Children can go to colleges and schools in Jammu. Others can attend to their jobs. Supplies to the villages can also be resumed due to this bridge set up by the Army", Sardar Singh, who runs an auto-rickshaw, said.

NGO HelpAge India, along with some doctors, have set up camp here to distribute medicines at Phallian Mandal, Surya Chak, Makwal, Raipur Satwari and other areas of Jammu outskirts.