Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag today undertook an extensive aerial survey of flood affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir to assess the damage and relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the Army at various places.
Gen Suhag reached here this morning and attended a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review situation at Technical Airport, Jammu. As Modi left for Srinagar, Gen Suhag undertook aerial survey of Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch sectors along with Northern Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda to assess heavy damages caused to civilian property, infrastructure etc by the floods and rains, rescue operations launched by the troops and relief camps being run by them at various places for the flood victims.
The Army chief inter-acted with the Army and IAF officials at various places, who were engaged in rescue missions and relief and rehabilitation operations. He lauded the efforts being made by the troops in providing best possible aid to the people and hoped that they will continue the mission till all the trapped civilians were rescued.
Later, Gen Suhag left for Srinagar and had aerial survey of several flood hit areas before returning to New Delhi. He called upon the troops to utilize all sources at their command to help the people affected by worst ever floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
Army has so far pressed its 184 columns into the service of flood hit people, rescued 12,000 civilians across the State, arranged temporary shelters for 2000 flood victims, was providing food to 3500 people and medicines to 3000 others, Defence spokesman (MoD) Col SD Goswami said.
He said 12 AN-32 helicopter, four IL-76, 5 C130J Hercules, two C17 and 26 helicopters have been pressed into service by the Army for relief and rescue operations in the State.
Army today also opened a disaster monitoring cell to deal with the crisis. An improvement in the weather has allowed the rescue operations to be intensified in the State.
IAF has alerted all its bases to maintain a high state of readiness to respond to the crisis and has committed 29 planes and choppers into the relief efforts.
“The IAF Command has alerted all its bases to be at a high state of readiness to respond to the emerging situation,” official sources said.
The Headquarters, Western Air Command, has also opened a disaster monitoring cell to coordinate between the efforts of all its bases, including Srinagar, Udhampur, Jammu and Sarsawa, apart from the fixed wing effort of other bases, they said.
A total of 850 persons have been airlifted so far from the flood-affected regions. Of them, 401 were evacuated yesterday and rest today.
“Rescue and relief operations have been intensified in view of the betterment of weather. It will continue till all people trapped in the floods are rescued,” Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Jammu IAF Station, Air Commodore PE Patange told reporters here today.
He said that the priority was first to save lives besides airdropping rations and medicines to the affected people.
As the number of shelter-less people is rising, Army is also providing tented accommodation to hundreds, sources said. Major rescue operations got underway in the State on September 2.
Army has been carrying out ‘Mission Sahayata’ in Kashmir Valley and ‘Mission Rahat’ in the Jammu region over the past four days to rescue people trapped in villages, isolated houses and multi-storied buildings in the affected areas.
In the past 48 hours till last night, Air Force has mounted IL-76 sorties and used two AN-32 aircraft to airlift NDRF teams and equipment from Bhatinda to Srinagar and Jammu air force bases.
The IL-76 airlifted 32 tonnes of cargo and 162 NDRF personnel to Srinagar while the AN-32 ferried 25 NDRF personnel and a load of four tonnes to the air force station in Jammu.
IAF has assigned aircrafts from its bases at Agra, Chandigarh, Suratgarh and Sarsawa, apart from those in J-K, to the relief operation.
Air force said that today, one C-17 Globemaster aircraft has been launched from Delhi to Awantipur with a Rapid Action Medical Team while two IL-76 aircraft with medical supplies and boats have taken off from Palam air force base for Srinagar.
In a statement in Delhi, Air Force added that one IL-76 with teams of NDRF personnel has taken off from Palam for Srinagar.
“Three C-130J Super Hercules special operations aircraft have been pressed into service to transport boats from Pune and Gandhinagar to Srinagar and blankets (10,000) and tents (3,000) from Kanpur to Jammu and Srinagar,” it said.
Apart from a total of 23 transport aircraft which have been pressed into the rescue effort, a total of 26 choppers of IAF, too, are operating in the region, the statement added.
Indian Air Force today airlifted 180 jawans who were posted at various border area posts along flood-affected Indo-Pak border in Jammu sector.
A total of over 180 BSF and Army jawans were evacuated from various border area posts along Indo-Pak border in Jammu sector today, Patange said.
Of these, over 80 BSF jawans and over 100 Army jawans have been airlifted from flood-trapped areas, he said.
Most of the border belts have been flooded causing threat to posts and jawans there.
Floods have badly hit security infrastructure along Indo- Pak border including Border Out Posts and Fencing as Choppers of Indian Air Force (IAF) and Army Aviation yesterday airlifted 108 BSF and Army men from forward areas.
IAF’s Condors in Jammu also reached out to trapped people in flash-floods in Jammu and evacuated 627 people by braving adverse weather conditions and poor visibility.
Floods have inundated most the stretches of border fencing and trapped BSF jawans in BoPs and also Army jawans in forward posts along Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Samba sectors.
“The rescue and relief operation has been intensified in view of the betterment of the weather. It will continue till all people trapped in floods are rescued,” Patange said.
He said that their priority is to save the lives first besides carrying out airdropping of ration, medicines to the trapped people.
Meanwhile General Officer Commanding Nagrota based 16 Corps, Lieutenant General H K Singh today said Army is prepared to take on any security challenge to help citizens of the nation, be it during natural calamity or any security threat.
Talking to media persons after having a visit to flood affected areas falling under the command of the 16 Corps, Lt Gen Singh said Army preparedness was excellent enough to take on any security challenge.
Replying to a query regarding the loss to fencing along Line of Control (LoC) after flash floods in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts amid threats of infiltration bids, the Army commander categorically said, “There is no major damage to fence and whatever is it is just a partial loss that is in mere small patches.”
“Our men are all right in all the forward areas though there were some cases of flooding in forward posts forcing evacuation but we are keeping a vigil eye on our frontiers,’’ Lt Gen Singh said.
To a question, he replied that two jawans have lost their lives during rescue operations and not in any flooding of any post.
He also said that some of the Army posts (at least 10) have suffered damages in fury of nature. While applauding the Army men who braved the odd situations and helped the civilians, he said, “I would like to emphasise that our men have always been ready to defend the security of our country during both war and peace.”
“Being Army men, this is our duty, he said and added that Army will continue to make efforts for welfare of people of nation.
Asserting that round-the-clock vigil is being maintained along the Indo-Pak border despite the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the GOC said they were fully prepared to foil any infiltration bid from across the border.
“Our boys are fully prepared to defeat any such design… any infiltration… If they (militants) try and they will pay for it,” he said.
He was asked about the possibility of Pakistan trying to push militants taking advantage of the present situation in J&K.
“The situation on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) is grim too. They are also trying to grapple with the situation,” he said, “they have also vacated a few posts and they are also suffering casualties, particularly in lower hills opposite to Pallanwala, Akhnoor and lower area.”
The Army officer said, “We have complete surveillance and patrolling… Night vision devices are being used to keep vigil along the border. If they try (to infiltrate) and they will pay for it.”
Lt Gen Singh said the Army was prepared to take on any security challenge to help citizens of the nation, be it during natural calamity or any security threat. “Army preparedness was excellent enough to take on any security challenge,” he added.
Referring to the damage caused to border fencing, he said that there was no major damage to fence and “it is just a partial loss that is in mere small patches. Some ten posts have suffered minor damages”.
He said that Army will continue to work closely with the civil administration in all activities aimed for the people of J&K.
He also informed that a special aircraft carrying relief materials and medicines including 4,000 blankets and 1,000 tents has been moved for the flood-hit areas from Kanpur. This will be handed over to the civil administration.
He said approximately 1,400 persons are being kept in 10 temporary camps set up by the Army. The next phase will be to reach out to the displaced population and help them come out of this great climatic tragedy.
Meanwhile, Western Command GOC-in-C Lt Gen K J Singh has directed the local Commanders to ensure full support to the civil administration and BSF and ensure round the clock monitoring.
He has also given orders for medical teams and other resources including Engineers to be on stand-by for the Kashmir Valley.
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