Srinagar/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday appealed to the nation to contribute generously and to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the distressed people of flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, from where 130,000 people were rescued.
Srinagar is battling the worst floods in 60 years. While hundreds have been rendered homeless, the main city of Srinagar has been partially submerged under water.
In an emotional appeal to the nation, Modi urged people “to stand in solidarity with distressed, flood-affected people in Jammu and Kashmir and be part of the national effort to support them in this hour of crisis”.
Describing the floods as unprecedented, Modi said that a large number of people have died or have been temporarily displaced.
“Property and infrastructure worth crores of rupees have been damaged. Our fellow countrymen in Jammu and Kashmir need our help at this critical hour to tide over the calamity and to rebuild their lives,” a statement cited Modi as saying.
He said that the central government is “extending full cooperation to the Jammu and Kashmir government in the measures for rescue, relief and rehabilitation besides, direct assistance to the affected people”.
“I request all fellow countrymen to stand shoulder to shoulder with our distressed brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir and be part of the national effort to support them in this hour of crisis.”
“I appeal to all citizens to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund,” it added.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the media here: “Approximately 200 are dead and 130,000 people have been rescued from the state.”
Around 1,200 villages in Srinagar and 1,100 in Jammu have been affected, he said.
“Around 400 villages have been totally submerged (in flood water). It is a national calamity,” he added.
“We will be able to assess the damage only after the water recedes,” the home minister said when asked about the total damage due to the floods.
Asked about separatists instigating protests, Rajnath Singh said: “We have closed our eyes to the separatists.”
Stating that the central government has taken “immediate and proactive” action, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs10 billion (Dh0.6 billion) for flood relief and rehabilitation.
In a separate statement in Jammu, the defence ministry said 10 more bodies had been recovered from Udhampur district, while a search was on for 31 others who are feared buried in the September 5-6 landslide that followed heavy rain in Punjar Sadda village.
The ministrfy statement said around 30,000 soldiers have been deployed for rescue and relief operations - 21,000 in Srinagar region and 9,000 in Jammu region.
So far, 298,000 litres of water, 31,500 packets of food and over 533 tonnes cooked food have already been airdropped and distributed in the flood-affected areas.
To provide speedy medical aid to the affected populace, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services are operating in full swing. Four field hospitals have also been established.
“Till now they have treated more than 21,500 patients and 19 tonnes medicines and other health care materials are also being transported from Delhi to the flood affected area,” the statement said.
According to the union health ministry, a 30-member team of doctors, including pediatricians and gynecologists, has been dispatched to the state.
Two teams of psycho-social specialists are also being sent to assess the mental state of the traumatised people evacuated by the rescue teams.
So far, 1,379 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of the armed forces and 1,799 tonnes of relief materials were dropped.
Keeping in view of urgent requirement for rescue operation, the army has deployed 90 more boats in Srinagar and adjoining areas.
A total of 224 army boats and 148 inflatable boats of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are actively involved in the rescue operation.
Besides, the armed forces have established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu regions.
“Communication equipments of department of telecommunication, army, BSNL and some of private companies have been dispatched to restore the communication systems in the state,” the ministry statement added.
To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of the Border Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been pressed into service.
As drinking water has also become scarce in the Kashmir Valley, the health ministry said they are dispatching Friday two water purification plants with a capacity to purify around 50,000 litres per day and six small water purification units along with operators.
