J&K floods: Army rescues more than 47,000 people

The Indian Army has pressed more helicopters and rescue materials, including boats,  into service from Tuesday to rescue people in the state which has been badly hit by flood.

"Armed Forces and NDRF so far rescued 47227 persons in different regions of J&K. Army has deployed 220 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations, in which 135 columns deployed in Srinagar region and 85 columns in Jammu region. They have distributed 7,200 blankets and 210 tents," read a government statement on Tuesday night.

The Army also distributed 42,000 litres of water, 600 kilograms of biscuit, 7 tonne baby food and 1000 food packets in the flood-affected areas.

"Additional water bottles are being airlifted from Chandigarh and Delhi. In order to meet the shortage of food in the flood-affected area, cooked food including biscuits are being sent from Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad on a large scale. In an endeavor to provide speedy medical aid to the affected populace, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have also swung into action," read the statement.

So far 451 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Indian Air Force.

Five sixty three tonnes of relief materials have been dropped by the Indian Air Force.

Altogether 61 aircraft and helicopters have been pressed into action, read the statement.

"135 Army bauts and 148 NDRF’s inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operation," it said.

BSNL with the assistance of the Armed Forces is trying hard to restore its mobile services through satellite network and the telecom network at the earliest.

"Besides, Air Force communication equipment and a team from private telecom company are being airlifted from Delhi," read the statement.

To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5700 personnel, have been pressed into service.

As of now, they have restored the road connectivity between Batote and Kishtwar.

Work between Kishtwar and Sinthan Pass is in progress and Jammu to KM 172 is open for light vehicular traffic.

Fifteen engineering task force teams along with boats and other lifesaving equipment have already reached the flood affected areas to supplement the rescue operation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced a special assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore for flood-affected Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Rs. 2 lakh compensation would be given to the kin of each dead and Rs. 50,000 each for those seriously injured owing to the crisis from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.