J-K floods: 20,000 people rescued, 60 medical teams deployed

General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Command Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) DS Hooda said here on Monday that so far, around 20,000 people have been rescued from flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir, while 60 medical teams have been deployed across the state.

Expressing concern over prevailing situation in Kashmir, Hooda said, "The situation is critical, as the valley remains cut off. Our priority is to rescue people stranded in their houses and to give them relief supplies."

"South Kashmir is cut off, thus food and water supply is being flown in from Chandigarh. More reinforcements will be brought in. Badami Bagh cantonment is still submerged," he added.

However, he assured that the situation in Jammu region is slowly returning to normalcy and said that he does not see any major critical situation in Jammu.

"We are working with the civil administration of Jammu and Kashmir to restore electricity connections and the water supply. Our rescue efforts will continue till everyone is pulled out and rescued. We are looking at four to five days to restore connectivity up to Srinagar and also Reasi," Hooda added.

Flash floods have thrown normal life out of gear in Jammu and Kashmir. People in the flood-affected areas of Poonch are being provided with healthcare and other relief materials by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday for a first-hand assessment of the situation arising out of incessant rain and floods in the state, announced an extra Rs 1,000 crore on top of the earlier announced Rs 1,100 crores as special assistance for rehabilitation, while sharing the pain and anguish of the people of the state.

He also offered his help to Pakistan to assist in the relief work in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).