Relief work has picked up in Kashmir: Army

Relief work has picked up in the last two days in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir with the rain having stopped, the army commander in the state said Monday.

"In the last two days, as rain has stopped, relief work has picked up. In the next 48 hours our focus remains on Srinagar," Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, general-officer-commanding of the army's northern command, told a press conference here.

"Additional teams and boats are here. Rescue work in Srinagar will be faster," he said.

Hooda added that the situation in north Kashmir is "largely alright".

"Our idea is to pull out the people who are stuck as quickly as possible. We will continue operations till all are pulled out," he said.

Some teams will go to the Pir Panjal mountains to check out the tribal Gujjars and Bakarwals, Lt Gen Hooda said.

The death toll in the worst floods in Jammu and Kashmir in over 50 years is said to have crossed 150, while there has been extensive damage to property and infrastructure.