Modi undertakes aerial survey of affected areas, calls it national disaster
As the flood situation worsened in Jammu & Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation himself on Sunday. He announced special assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to the Omar Government to tackle the State’s worst flood in 60 years.
Several vital installations, including Army cantonment in Badamibagh, residential colonies, city centres, civil secretariat complex, Government hospital buildings and High Court complex, are submerged. Panic-stricken residents vacated their houses or shifted to upper floors amid reports of major breaches along embankments of the Jhelum river in Srinagar. The main city roads were inundated and common people were left stranded in the absence of any help.
While undertaking an aerial survey of the flood-affected, along with Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh and Army chief General Dalbir Singh, the Prime Minister said the flood situation in J&K was “national disaster”, even as death toll increased to 175 with 15 more deaths reported from Udhampur and Reasi districts of Jammu division on Sunday. Though floodwaters receded in Jammu division on Sunday, the death toll is expected to rise further as more than 35 people are still missing in Gulabgarh area of Reasi.
Eight bodies were recovered from Sadal village of Pancheri block in Udhampur district on Sunday after over two dozen houses were hit by massive mudslides. More than 40 houses were reportedly hit by massive landslides in Gulabgarh area of Reasi from where only one body was recovered till last reports came in. The district administration was yet to start rescue operations due to inhospitable terrain. Six more persons were killed and two injured in a house collapse at Muttal in district Udhampur in the last 24 hours.
In Srinagar, the State Government failed to get its act together even as frantic calls were made by the helpless people on the verge of getting marooned in floodwaters. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah logged on to the Twitter to appeal to the people trapped in waterlogged areas not to panic and wait for rescuers. “This is an unprecedented situation and we are doing the best we can under the circumstances. Please don’t panic, we will reach you, I promise.”
Troops and other emergency personnel have been deployed for relief operations. “The boats flown in from Delhi have been deployed in Srinagar’s worst-affected areas of Indranagar, Shivpura, Rajbagh,” Omar tweeted in an effort to reduce tension among the residents. “Around 25 boats flown in to Awantipura airbase for South Kashmir rescue ops and are being sent to the affected areas,” Omar tweeted further announcing start of rescue operations in South Kashmir as well.
Addressing mediapersons in Srinagar, the Prime Minister offered help to the people in neighbouring Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). “We are ready to help Pakistan in every possible way, as floods have also affected PoK.”
Calling upon other States to help J-K, the Prime Minister said medical teams and essential medical supplies will be sent to the State. Modi had earlier announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the kin of each flood victim and Rs 50,000 for each of the grievously injured. Modi promised to rush boats from Gujarat and Maharashtra to the flood-ravaged State.
He also said that in order to meet the immediate need of providing shelter to those who have lost their homes, the Centre will provide 5,000 tents. Besides, 2,000 solar lamps will be distributed in areas cut off from power supply. According to official sources in Srinagar, areas like Badamibagh, Sonawar, Rajbagh, Kursu, Natipora, Nowgam and old Barzulla were completely submerged.
Several vital roads including the airport road, Exhibition Crossing, Hari Singh High Street, lal Chowk and Regal Chowk have also been submerged under several feet of water. Access to main hospitals like SMHS and lalla Ded has been cut off. Meanwhile, yatra to the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi has been suspended for the fourth consecutive day in view of heavy rain in J&K.
Radio transmission in the Kashmir Valley was cut off after flood waters inundated the transmitter installations of state-run Radio Kashmir here, officials said. The local Doordarshan centre is already operating from makeshift facilities after its studios got flooded.
PDP MlC Naeem Akhtar, stranded in his house, wrote on his Facebook page, “Disaster has just unfolded itself. Going by the response, it could turn out to be a catastrophe. Have received frantic calls from friends, relatives, and unknown people for help. One single demand is boats, the only life-saving device needed now.”
Commenting on the absence of State Government machinery, Naeem in his second post wrote, “Mechanised boats alone can help. For God’s sake. Had tried to move out from my home which is mercifully safe yet but couldn’t proceed beyond Barzalla bridge. Water ahead. Receiving frantic calls from Rajbagh where people have now moved to 3rd floor. Very grim situation. Water spreading all over the city”
On Sunday, Srinagar also lost iconic image of Chinar standing tall in Pratap Park as it fell down with a loud bang due to wet soil. Communication networks along with electricity and water supply remained disrupted across Srinagar.
A senior official said that additional teams of NDRF and 100 boats have been rushed to Kashmir for launching rescue operations in the Valley. “We are facing shortage of boats for rescuing people from inundated areas. Divisional Commissioner Rohit Kansal said many people were trapped in several localities which have been inundated due to breach in banks of River Jhelum at some places. Due to shortage of boats we have not been able to reach these areas yet,” he said. He said additional teams of NDRF are flying into the Valley to carry out rescue operations.
In Jammu, the flood fury has left behind trail of death and destruction. After water levels receded in the Tawi and the Chenab, locals whose houses were washed away were seen struggling to collect their valuables to rebuild their lives.
Several houses, constructed illegally along the banks of the Tawi, have been washed away. The situation in Pargwal area of Akhnoor was still worrisome as majority of villagers are camping in relief camps set up by the Army and State administration. The road network connecting frontier Poonch and Rajori districts could not be restored while national highway connecting Srinagar also remained closed due to landslides at various places. The State Government has also announced closure of educational institutions in Jammu division for three more days.