NEW DELHI : The Centre today appealed to the people not to panic and reassured them of all necessary assistance to their relatives who may be trapped in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, specially the Valley. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said so far more than 76,500 people had been rescued by the Armed forces and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and the remaining people were also in the process of being shifted out from the places where they are held up. Hailing the role of the army, air force and the paramilitary forces including BSF, Dr Singh said the IAF and the army alone had so far pressed into service nearly 80 aircraft and helicopters.
In addition, 329 columns of army personnel are already deployed in the state who are performing an exemplary task under the most inhospitable conditions. “This only goes on to prove the point that the Indian army and paramilitary forces are not only capable to fight the enemy on the borders but also equally capable to fight the ravages of natural calamity like the one being witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Dr Singh said he had taken up with the Home Ministry and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) the issue of providing more relief material.
The army alone had distributed 1,50,000 litres of water to the flood-hit people while additional water bottles were being airlifted from Chandigarh and Delhi. He said he was in touch with the state administration and also maintaining a regular individual contact with Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts. However, the major hassle was breakdown of communication and telephone links which, he said, were expected to be restored within next one or two days. Meanwhile, rescue teams were using satellite phones for communication, he added.
(AGENCIES)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel