*1.32 lakh rescued, 13,000 through NH, all party meet today
Sanjeev Pargal/Avtar Bhat
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Sept 12: Even as several areas in Srinagar remained submerged under 6 to 10 feet water and people were largely becoming desperate and impatient due to failure of the Government and administration to restore supply of essential services and provide them essential commodities, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today confirmed 29 deaths in the floods and said the Government was verifying reports as to whether 12 to 14 children had died in GB Pant hospital while being evacuated from the floods. He said in such a situation it would be impossible to give exact death toll even as unconfirmed reports said the toll could be higher.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, Omar announced Rs 3.5 lakh relief for next of kin of those killed in the rains and floods, which will include Rs 2 lakh relief announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rs 75,000 for damaged houses as first installment, 50 kg ration free of cost for flood victims per month for six months and kept Rs 100 crores each at the disposal of divisional administration of Jammu and Kashmir for urgent relief works.
He said a delegation of six Cabinet Ministers led by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather has reached New Delhi to take up with the Prime Minister the issue of more relief and funds for the State while he has called an all party meeting at 11 am at Hari Niwas, Srinagar tomorrow to take the political parties into confidence on relief measures and get suggestions from them on the roadmap ahead.
The delegation led by Rather comprised Transport Minister Mohammad Ramzan, Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra, Haj and Auqaf Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma.
The delegation was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7.30 pm today but the meeting didn’t mature as Modi was busy in another meeting. It will now meet Modi at 1 pm tomorrow and seek relief for flood victims on Leh pattern when cloudburst had taken toll of many lives in 2010.
Strongly decrying the youths pelting stones on the relief and rescue teams of Army, Air Force and NDRF engaged in relief and rescue operations, Omar said “some people will never change’’ but gave an assurance that relief and rescue operations will continue with deployment of police and para-military personnel to ensure that the trouble mongers didn’t disturb the operations.
On the other hand, Army, Air Force, NDRF and other agencies have so far rescued 1.32 lakh people from flood affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir to safer areas including 13000 people rescued through the blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway using buses on either side and continued relief and rescue operations using helicopters, aircrafts, boats etc in Srinagar and other parts of the State.
Union Home Secretary, Anil Goswami, who is in Srinagar for past two days, had a series of meetings with officers of Army, Air Force, civil administration and other agencies to review the situation on relief and rescue front. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh had deputed Goswami to Srinagar yesterday to monitor the situation and ensure expeditious relief and rescue operations.
The water level has receded in many areas to six feet level but it was still as high as 10 feet in other areas, where first storey of the houses was in the water. Dal, Bemina, Batmaloo, Mehjoor Nagar, Jawahar Nagar and surroundings were worst hit. In some of the areas, people could be seen sitting on roofs of their houses and waiving towards each and every passing aircraft for relief material. Majority of them were lucky to get food packets while some were not so lucky and had to wait for the next day.
However, people told the Excelsior reporters in different areas that drinking water remained the major problem. “We are surrounded by water from all sides but have no water to drink, bathrooms and cook food,’’ the people said in chorus, where water level had receded to six feet.
The people were facing lot of miseries. Even the people, who managed to reach the markets in boats were unable to get a single drinking water bottle though they were ready to spend Rs 100 for it as majority of shops were closed and flooded while few opened shops had lost their stocks.
Only Army and IAF personnel were airdropping water bottles. While some people were lucky to get water bottles, others were not. Most of the people admitted that if they were alive today, it was only because of the Army. They rued total apathy of the State Government and local administration towards the people, which, they alleged, has left the people to starve and die.
People in Mehjoor Nagar said they saw bodies of two Sikhs floating in flood waters but no one from administration tried to take out the bodies.
Confusion still prevailed over the number of persons killed in the flood in Kashmir though Omar confirmed 29 deaths and told a questioner that there were reports that 12 to 14 children might have died at GB Pant hospital but it hasn’t been confirmed so far. Omar said giving figures of death toll would be premature at this stage.
Reports said eight deaths reportedly took place in two other hospitals. Some Bihari labourers were also washed away in a house collapse at Jawahar Nagar. They added that the death toll could be more than expected.
Locals said they have seen some bodies floating in the flooded streets, which indicated that the death toll could be higher but the number would be clear only when the flood water recedes and the bodies or recovered. Locals added that a large number of animals have perished in the flood waters and it wouldn’t be possible to count their numbers.
At few places in Srinagar, the youths pelted stones on Army and Air Force choppers hampering relief and rescue operations for some time. The common persons flayed the youth saying they were fully dependent on Army and IAF for help and if they suspended relief and rescue operations, several people will starve to death. Reports said the youths were motivated by the militants to pelt stones.
The flood-affected residents of Kashmir Valley living in make shift camps were also worried about their future in view of the approaching winters.
“We are left with nothing to eat and nowhere to go as our house has been completely damaged by the floods. We are lucky to have survived, but now we are worried where we will live now,” said Ghulam Qadir, a resident of Suthra Shahi locality of the city, who along with his family was rescued by the Army and is being airlifted to safety.
“We are now going to Jammu to stay with our daughter for few days, but we have to return home in Kashmir to face the harsh reality,” he said.
As the floodwater has started to recede, the complete picture of the extent of the damage caused by the floods is becoming visible.
A large number of houses have collapsed across Srinagar city with thousands of residents living in make shift relief camps being run by various organizations, besides the army and the civil administration also setting up various relief centers.
“We are more worried about our future as our house has completely collapsed and I along with my entire family have been staying in this make shift relief camp being set up by the BSF.
“We have a very bleak future ahead due to the upcoming winters,” said Hassan Mir in a relief camp `Rain Basera, which was being manned the BSF near the Srinagar airport.
With the water level receding in river Jhelum, the threat of outbreak of epidemic in Kashmir is increasing as there is massive shortage of medicines and vaccines in the flood affected areas of the Valley.
“We only have basic drugs available at this camp. There are no chlorine tablets or vaccines required for protection against water-borne diseases available with us,” Mudassir Ahmad Bhat, who is operating a medical camp at Barzulla on Airport road, said.
The situation is no different at the medical camps being operated by army at Hyderpora and Rambagh.
“Most of the people are asking for chlorine tablets as water coming through taps is contaminated but right now we do not have enough stock,” an official at Hyderpora camp said.
Water level in river Jhelum has receded by several feet in the past two days but many areas of the Srinagar city are still under flood water, which has increased the threat of outbreak of epidemic.
Hundreds of animal carcasses are floating in residential areas which are still several feet of water.
Doctors say there is urgent need of vaccines to protect the people, especially children under the age of 12 years, against water-borne diseases.
“Vaccines are urgently needed especially for the children. There have been many cases of children suffering from upset stomach over the past couple of days,” a doctors told the Excelsior while treating some of the flood victims.
Shahid Bhat, who is working as a volunteer, said he visited several private hospitals and medical camps in search of vaccines in view of rising cases of gastro- enterological problems.
“All the hospitals said they did not have the vaccines due to lack of electricity. A vaccine needs to be refrigerated or it will get destroyed,” Bhat said.
He said he has sent out messages to his friends, who wanted to help, across the country and abroad to send vaccines and chlorine tablets on priority to prevent outbreak of epidemic.
Meanwhile, in his press conference, Omar announced financial and other assistance to those hit by the disaster, including assistance of Rs 100 crore each to the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley and supply of free ration for six months.
He said that 137 relief camps had been set up in the Valley where over one lakh people were being attended to.
Omar announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3.5 lakh to kin of those killed in the floods and financial assistance of Rs 75,000 as initial installment for those who lost their homes for rebuilding them. The ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased will include Rs 2 lakh announced by the Prime Minister earlier. He said it wouldn’t be possible for the Government to compensate entire damage but added that it would do its best to provide succor to the people. He said the Government would also arrange soft loans for rebuilding houses, ask insurance companies to expedite claims and include flood if it was not covered and also ensure timber for the people.
The Chief Minister said free ration will be supplied to the affected people for six months which includes 50 kgs of rice. “I have asked authorities not to insist on documents for supply ration free of cost,” he added.
Omar suggested that the relief should be paid in cash as was done in the case of affected people in the Uri earthquake in 2005 and Ladakh cloud burst in 2010.
“There should be not much of Government role. Let people build their homes themselves,” he said and announced that cement and timber can be arranged from Government depots and steel can be provided by the SAIL.
He sought setting up of insurance camps in the State for settling claims and also requested the Centre to direct the insurance companies to cover damage due to floods while deciding on the compensation if it was not covered in the risk cover taken by the people. However, he admitted that most of the people didn’t go for insurance cover and would be fully dependent on the compensation provided by the Government.
The Chief Minister announced preparation of Flood Management Plan and its submission to the Centre for relief. He said Home Secretary Suresh Kumar has been deputed to New Delhi to coordinate with the Centre in relief measures. He hoped that Rs 2100 crores announced by the Centre as relief for the State would be released expeditiously so that the Government was in a position to take up relief works at the earliest.
He said the Haj flights have been deferred till September 20 and would start then immediately.
He said apart from 137 relief camps, the Government has also set up Special Relief Commission and asked the Divisional Commissioners to start releasing ex gratia in favour of deceased and injured. The Prime Minister had announced Rs 50,000 for the injured persons. He said some of the hospitals have been made functional while doctors have been asked to return to duties and start health camps at Barzulla hospital to prevent spread of epidemic.
Asserting that it would take time to restore essential supplies like electricity, water etc, Omar said there has been extensive damage to infrastructure including transformers, electric wires, poles, which have been damaged or washed away in the floods. Only 480 MW electricity supply is available.
Omar said that medicines and disinfectants like chlorine, phenyl and DDT have been airlifted for supply in the affected areas to prevent any water-borne diseases.
“Clean drinking water is a problem. I have asked authorities to use the medicine liberally to reduce chances of disease,” Omar said, adding eight water filtration plans had been brought which will distribute drinking water.
The Chief Minister refused to give any time line for complete restoration of power supply. It had come down to 100 MW when water levels increased but now “we have reached 480 MW.”
J&K Government had earlier sanctioned Rs 9.5 crore each for Kashmir and Jammu provinces, Omar noted.
The situation is normalizing slowly, the Chief Minister said adding one senior minister each will be stationed in south and north Kashmir for overseeing relief and rescue operations.
Giving details of the difficulties faced on account of resources, he said he had to write in his own hand the letters to leaders of various political parties for tomorrow’s meeting.
Omar said there are many marooned people who do not want to leave their houses and many others already evacuated went back to their houses even though they are still submerged.
In this context, he said 7000 people were taken back to their houses yesterday when 1500 people were evacuated.
“The number of those who want to come out is shrinking…It is reverse movement and the boats are being re-tasked accordingly”, he said.
Omar also said there was no estimate about the damage caused to houses even as he expressed confidence that houses would be rebuilt within two months, before the onset of winter by the assistance to be provided by the Government.
“There is no question of people living in tents in winter as the valley witnesses immense cold,” he said.
He said the situation was still bad in some areas and he would not say he was “comfortable”.
Two dewatering pumps have been pressed into service along with experts from ONGC but there are breaches at least at three places. Efforts are being made to plug these breaches. Six more pumps are coming.
On the fuel situation, Omar said the supplies of diesel, petrol and LPG would be augmented soon along with efforts to restore the communication system fully.
Asked to comment on reports that some 40 children at the Lalded Maternity Hospital died, he said he could not confirm this. He said he had heard about 12-14 deaths but this needs to be reconfirmed.
The Chief Minister said the Bone and Joint Hospital, the specialist hospital for Orthopedics, has been restarted and doctors and paramedics have been asked to report for duty.
He said 160 tones of medical supplies are being distributed.
Eight portable water purifiers have been pressed into service to make pouches of clean drinking water for distribution to the affected people.
Meanwhile, more than 1,32,000 people have been rescued from the flood-ravaged parts of Jammu and Kashmir so far as the relief operations launched by the Armed forces entered the 11th day today.
“Over 1,32,000 persons have been rescued so far by the Armed forces and NDRF from different parts of J&K in the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the flood ravaged State,” Defence spokesman (MoD) Col SD Goswami said.
Eighty-nine transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service, he said.
Armed Forces personnel are distributing water bottles and food packets on a large scale, he said, adding, so far 2,98,000 litres of water, 31,500 food packets and over 533 tones cooked food have already been airdropped and distributed in the flood-affected areas.
8,200 blankets and 1,000 tents were provided to the flood victims. 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services are already operating in full swing, he said.
Four Field Hospitals have been established in Avantipur, Pattan, Anantnag and Old Airfield where medical aid is being provided to the ailing people, he said, adding, till now they have treated more than 21,500 patients.
One more fully equipped field hospital from Bathinda is on its way to Srinagar, he said.
19 tones medicines and other health care materials are also being transported from Delhi to the flood-affected areas, he said, adding, more relief materials including blankets, water bottles and food packets are being airlifted from Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Patna, Amritsar and Chandigarh.
Defence PRO Jammu Col Manish Mehta said so far, 1,526 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces, he said, adding that, 2,059 tones of relief materials were dropped by the Indian Air Force.
A third batch of Naval Marine Commandos with rubberized inflatable craft (Geminis), out board motors (OBMs), compressors, diving sets and satellite phones arrived at Srinagar yesterday to support the rescue operations, sources said.
Keeping in view of urgent requirement of more boats in the rescue operations, Army has deployed 90 more boats in Srinagar and adjoining areas, he said, adding, a total of 224 boats of Army and 148 NDRF’s inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operations.
Armed Forces have also established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu region.
In Srinagar region, camps were established at BB Cantt, Avantipur, Old Airfield, Sumbal, Chattargam and Jijamata Mandir, where thousands of rescued people are being sheltered, sources said.
Thirteen tones of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day, have already reached Srinagar, they said.
Two water purification plants and 7 lakhs chlorine tablets are being sent today from Delhi, he said, adding, engineering stores including suction pumps from Vishakhapatnam are also being sent to the flood affected areas.
Communication equipment of Department of Telecommunication, Army, BSNL and some of private companies have been dispatched to restore the communication systems in the State, sources said.
To meet the immediate energy requirement, 22,000 litres of fuel from Ambala have been transported to the Valley, they said.
Five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been pressed into service to restore the road connectivity, he said, adding, as of now, they have restored the road connectivity from Batote–Kishtwar, Kishtwar-Sinthan Pass and Sinthan Pass-Anantnag.
Jammu-Poonch road has been cleared for traffic, he said, adding, on the Jammu–Srinagar highway, BRO personnel have cleared the road up to KM 172 (Ramsu).
Army also rescued 13,000 persons through the blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during last two days. Sources said the trapped people were transported up to Ramsu, where the Highway has been blocked. From Ramsu, they trekked mountains and reached other side of the road from where they were again taken to Udhampur and Jammu in the buses.
GOC Delta Force and Commander of Rashtriya Rifles sector visited Ramban to monitor the operation to rescue the people from the Highway. The people were also being provided food while trekking the closed stretch of the highway by the Army.
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