Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Sept 12: Over 6000 stranded people have been airlifted to Jammu from flood-hit Srinagar till late night today on day-5 of the rescue operation.
The airlifted people were all praise for the Indian Army, NDRF, Indian Air Force and allied Central Forces for their superb display in rescuing them, however, the nightmarish ‘experience’ during all these days is still haunting the rescued people and they want to forget the scenes by talking less and resting more.
While talking to EXCELSIOR, Prashant Patange, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Station Jammu informed that over 6000 people have been airlifted from Srinagar to Jammu till late night today with around 1400 today, adding that a load of 2246 tons including food, relief and allied items have also been lifted to Srinagar from Jammu till date, with around 60 tons today.
Mr Patange further said that the rescue operation has been intensified and is going on round the clock and 70 aircrafts are being used at a stretch for relief and rescue measures in the flood-hit Valley.
He added that it took around 200 sorties, including 30 today only to take the passengers from Srinagar to Jammu and load from Jammu to Srinagar.
“Our job is to airlift all the rescued people to Jammu and every effort is made to do the job well. The rescue operation is on war footing and we have hardly any time for other assignments,” expressed Mr Patange.
Meanwhile, narrating their tale of woes, the airlifted people while sharing their nightmarish ‘experience’ said that they were waiting in the wings to see somebody coming to their rescue and serving as a beacon light to guide and goad them in the grim atmosphere of banishment during the days they were stranded in floods.
Ramesh Pandita, a Government employee, who was rescued from Hotel Pearl, near J B Pant Hospital, Sonawar said that the scenes were still haunting him and he has no words to explain the tragedy, adding that terrific flow of water and demolition of walls and gates were shocking scenes.
“The cry of the people ‘Bachao, Bachao’ from all sides was simply nightmarish. The passage of the time from Sunday morning to Tuesday evening, with water in the third storey of hotel was venomous. Despite making persistent efforts to forget about the scene, I am not in a position to deviate from the same,” expressed Mr Ramesh.
BD Sharma and Mr Pravesh were of the same opinion while sharing the tragedy.
While terming the Central Forces as the saviors, they hesitated in recalling the scene.
They said that their was hardly any role of local administration in rescue operation, adding the role of the Indian Army is commendable.
Another airlifted person, a Bank employee said that he wanted to take rest only to get rid of those horrendous scenes.
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