J-K: Over 150 killed in worst floods in 60 years

More than 150 people have lost their lives and scores have been marooned in the worst floods that has hit the state in nearly six decades.

Reports of a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Udhampur district has resulted in death of atleast seven people and about 20 are believed to be missing. The landslide also buried around 24 houses.

Deputy inspector general of police (DIG), Reasi-Udhampur range, Gareeb Dass has stated that a joint rescue and relief team was air-dropped at the place to carry out rescue operation.

The flood waters from major rivers and streams have damaged many buildings, including hospitals, and snapped road and communication links, cutting off many areas. Communication system has been disrupted. The current flood situation has forced the state government to order closure of all schools till Friday.

While the situation eased a little in Jammu, large areas in Kashmir were enveloped in flood waters following incessant rains.

The Army cantonment, Civil Secretariat and the High Court in Srinagar have been inundated. Transmission at Radio Kashmir Srinagar has also stopped.

Army and the Indian Air Force have stepped up relief and rescue efforts, with the weather showing some signs of improvement.

The Air Force has pressed 29 planes and helicopters into service, set up a disaster monitoring cell and alerted all its bases to a high state of readiness.

Seventy boats and five teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been sent for rescue and relief operations. The decision was taken by Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday after reviewing the flood situation in the state.

The Home Minister has also appealed to all social organizations and NGOs to mobilise their resources to bolster the rescue efforts.

Over 13,000 people have been rescued by the army and the IAF from various areas. Many people are still trapped in upper stories of buildings in low-lying areas, including in Srinagar. Reaching out to jawans in marooned Border outposts and fencing areas along the Indo-Pak border, IAF choppers evacuated a total of over 180 BSF and Army jawans from various forward posts in Jammu sector.

Due to the inclement climate Mata Vaishnodevi shrine yatra remains suspended with authorities saying the pilgrimage would resume only after the improvement of weather.

The weatherman has forecast no major rainfall in the Valley as well as in Jammu in the next four days.

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has directed power authorities to restore electricity in Jammu and Kashmir. In reply to a question on disrupted power infrastructure in the state, he said all efforts are being made to ensure that power supply in the affected areas is restored at the earliest. He said, a special team has already been dispatched to the state to restore power transmission lines.

Reviewing the flood situation yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had termed it a national level disaster.

He announced an additional 1,000 crore rupees as special assistance for flood relief and rehabilitation. The Prime Minister also called upon other states to pitch in with relief assistance in whatever way they could.

Prime Minister Modi also offered all possible assistance to Pakistan for carrying out relief operations in the flood-ravaged Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. He wrote a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and offered assistance. Prime Minister Modi has said, that it is a matter of great distress that the retreating monsoon rains have played havoc in many parts of the two countries. He said, while reviewing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he was informed that the damage to life and property is equally, if not more, severe in areas across the Line of Control as well.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has also reportedly condoled the loss of lives in Jammu and Kashmir and offered help to India in whatever way possible to mitigate the suffering of the people affected by the floods in the state.