Protests by flood victims delay rescue efforts

Accusing delay in rescue and relief operations, people in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital here took to streets demanding immediate redressal of their problems, temporarily halting NDRF's efforts to reach the needy.
People in the worst-affected localities of Tengpora, Batamaloo, Qamarwari and Bemina took to the streets accusing the government of failing to come to their rescue and complained of negligence.
"First they (government) did not come to our rescue. We were stranded in our houses for days. Locals saved us. Now, there is no relief and our houses are still submerged in water," Shameem Ahmad, resident of Tengpora locality, claimed.

Another local, Mohammad Sadiq, said the delay in starting the process of de-watering of the inundated areas was causing immense hardships to the people.
"You can see carcasses of cows and dogs floating in the water. There is stench everywhere. This can lead to spread of various diseases and that is why we are compelled to come out on roads," he said.
"Why are they not starting de-watering of our areas? There is a de-watering plant nearby," he added.

A few teams of NDRF were seen in the area trying to reach the people with relief but they had to face hostile crowd and the operations had to be halted for some time.

"This is the biggest hurdle in our operations. There are some people who are not satisfied and they cause trouble. We are trying our best to reach everywhere, but there are difficulties. We cannot be everywhere at the same time," Anil Dabral, deputy commandant of the 7th battalion NDRF, told PTI.
Dabral said the force had to temporarily stop the rescue and relief operations in the areas along the Hyderpora-Bemina bye-pass because of the hostile crowd.
They first argued with the NDRF personnel and after some time, a number of people came out on the roads and blocked traffic. We had to halt the operations as there was stone-pelting near Bemina as well, he said.