Flood waters receding fast: Omar Abdullah

Flood water in Jammu and Kashmir was receding fast, and more and more people were returning to their homes, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Monday.

Abdullah Monday convened a high-level meeting of officers of the civil and police administration here to review the rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.

An official statement issued here said: "During the meeting, it was apprised that the situation is under control as the water level is decreasing and people are returning to their homes.

"It was informed that increased relief supply to the city is needed besides more pumps are needed to put in service for draining out the water.

The chief minister emphasised on adequate supply of ration, medicine and de-watering to be taken care on a war-footing, it said.

Abdullah said heavy duty de-watering pumps have been installed and more would be put in service to drain out the flood water.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has been directed to quickly disposed of carcasses, and intensify cleaning up operations in the city.

The chief minister directed the hiring of more vehicles for transportation of relief material and other facilities to the public.

The health department secretary said medicine consignments were being distributed to hospitals and medical camps.

He said nine lakh chlorine tablets have already been distributed and 10 lakh more are being received for further distribution.

He also said hospitals that were inundated in the floods were now starting to function and were being monitored.

Electricity supply has been restored in 65 percent of Srinagar city and in other districts as well. However, in Shopian, it may take a few more days due to heavy damage to electricity towers.

Railway tracks have also been restored and a train moved from Budgam to Baramulla. Another train is expected to move from Srinagar to Baramulla Tuesday.

The condition of roads was also improving and traffic has began to ply.

Traffic at Ramsu on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, where landslides extensively damaged the road, was also likely to start Tuesday.