Stepping up efforts to re-establish normalcy in the flood ravaged state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that 60 per cent power supply has been restored in Kashmir Valley so far while 85 per cent power supply has been restored in Jammu region. He assured that that power supply will be restored fully across Jammu division within 15 days. Power infrastructure in the state had been damaged due to floods caused by heavy rains over the last few days. He said over two lakh people have been rescued so far by the Armed Forces and NDRF from flood-affected areas. Sewage pumps from Delhi have been sent to drain out flood water from different parts of Srinagar. Suction pumps from Vishakhapatnam have also been despatched and heavy duty pumps are being airlifted from Jodhpur and Raipur. Mr Abdullah said the main task before the administration is to flush out the flood waters.
Mr. Abdullah said more relief materials including food packets, water bottles, blankets and tents are being airlifted from Patna, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Amritsar to the valley.
Road connectivity from Batote to Anantnag and Srinagar to Sonamarg has been restored. Road between Srinagar to Baramulla is now open for light vehicles. On the Jammu to Srinagar national highway, Border Roads Organisation personnel have cleared 172-kilometre road up to Ramsu. Work is in progress to clear fresh landslides in areas that were cleared yesterday on this road.
The state Government has geared up to contain the damage and wanted the Centre to speedily send medicines as well as at least 300 paramedic staff. The Department of Health Services is making arrangements on a war-footing, issuing advisories, deploying doctors and paramedics across the Valley besides dispatching drugs and medicines. Director, Health Services, Saleem-ur Rehman, told the agencies that outbreak of epidemic is feared because of filth that has accumulated across the Valley besides the death of animals and their carcasses floating around in the flood waters.
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth met in New Delhi today to review relief work in flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir. State Government representatives and those from Central Ministries and departments involved in the work attended the meeting. The State representatives briefed on the current situation and requirements of the Government. The Central government Ministries and Departments gave details about relief work being undertaken in the State.
