NEW DELHI / SRINAGAR / JAMMU: Aided by a period of drought, the Army expanded its operations air injection on Monday, rescuing nearly 23,500 people affected by flooding, including about 2,000 in Srinagar alone with army chief , General Dalbir Singh Suhag, told reporters that the military "will not return to barracks until the last man is brought to a safe place."
While the security forces and state administration fought unprepared worst calamity Kashmir since independence, crossed 175 deaths with 27 people killed by landslide in the remote village of Pancheri in Udhampur district. A higher number of dead is feared dozens of people trapped in areas cut off by landslides in the region of Jammu.
Heavy flooding snapped telecommunication links through Kashmir on Monday as thousands thronged the roofs after the deadliest floods in the state in about 60 years that have flooded hundreds of villages and killed about 200 people in the last week.
Naval and marine commandos were deployed for the first time on Monday as water levels remained high distribution constant impeding relief supplies. Desperate people were seen huddled on rooftops in Srinagar as military helicopters tried to start some of them to safety.
There were no complete breakdown of the telecommunications network with both mobile phone and paralyzed terrestrial links. Army sources said the air transport communication and BSNL charges to Srinagar started to restore connectivity. Power supply was interrupted throughout the state, with hospitals that bear the brunt of the crisis.
The Border Roads Organization has assessed the damage to the three roads connecting Jammu and Kashmir said it will take five to seven days to restore the vital link road.
"The army has deployed some 20,000 troops in its operation Megh Rahat to rescue trapped people, with 215 columns, 65 medical teams and 15 workgroups of engineers out in the Kashmir valley," said additional director general (information public) Major General shokin Chauhan on Monday night.
"They have rescued more than 23,500 people so far. Among them, 2,000 were rescued Monday morning from severely affected areas in Srinagar as Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Shivpura, Pantha and others. Moreover, we have flown material enormously helpful, more than 10,000 blankets and 150 tons of rations to a ready to eat meals and 4,00,000 lakh liters of milk ',' he added.
The IAF used 45 planes and helicopters flying over 200 sorties to transport 1,800 people and 315 tonnes of relief. "The helicopters, with Garud commandos, too hoisted more than 320 people. In some cases, Garuds ceilings had to dismantle and evacuate people trapped on the upper floors of their homes," said IAF spokesman.
"We are facing a big problem of communication when all links are down," said the head of NDRF OP Singh. "We can not communicate with our teams on the ground. Moreover, as the water level is high in many places, our staff can not reach the stranded," he added.
In Poonch, five people were reported missing, the worst affected district, where flash floods paralyzed road link and provide the impotent without water district. "About 1,000 cattle have perished in Jammu," said an official.
Meanwhile, sources said some 40 people still trapped in the village of Saddal in Pancheri, about 55 km from Udhampur, following a landslide that occurred during heavy rains the night before.
With firearms falling almost silently along the Line of Control volatile, and both sides of Kashmir facing flood fury, CEO of Military Operations Lt Gen PR Kumar offered help to his Pakistani counterpart on the hotline, with the Pakistani army too alternative gesture.
The commands of the Navy, deployed around Lake Wular for counterterrorism operations, contributed to rescue about 200 people in Haigaon in Srinagar-Sopore road. "In addition, specialized naval diving teams are on if asked stand-by in New Delhi, Mumbai and Vizag," said an official.
The army itself was greatly affected by the disaster, with around 4,200 of its soldiers and 380 families stranded in the Badami Bagh cantonment practically submerged in Srinagar. "They also had to be evacuated, but do not allow us hampering rescue efforts were ongoing," said an official.
