*NDRF teams rushed to Srinagar for rescue ops
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 30: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth had an hour long video conferencing with Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey as the Centre reviewed latest flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir and deputed two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams while eight others were on way and extended all other possible help to the State to meet with the flood threat.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told the Assembly this afternoon after his return from Srinagar that Rajnath Singh spoke to him this morning and conveyed him all possible help the Centre could extend to the State to tackle the situation arising out of the floods in the Valley. Singh conveyed to the Chief Minister that relief materials are being air dashed to the flood-affected Valley in the shortest possible time.
During the telephonic talk, Mufti Sayeed briefed Rajnath Singh about the prevailing flood situation in Kashmir valley and the steps being taken for rescue and providing relief to the affected people.
Singh assured full Central assistance to tackle the flood situation and conveyed to the Mufti that relief materials are being airlifted to the Valley in shortest possible time to help the State Government in rescue and relief operations.
Mufti Sayeed was making suo moto statement in the Legislative Assembly at 3.15 pm after returning here from Srinagar, where he had directly flown from New Delhi yesterday to review the situation arising out of fresh floods.
Sayeed told the House that Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth has also held video conferencing with Chief Secretary for about an hour to assess the situation following floods and rising water level in Jhelum.
The Chief Minister said the Centre has released Rs 200 crores for interim rescue and relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the water level was 22.7 feet at Sangam this afternoon but it was reducing by 11 inches per hour while in Srinagar it was 19.7 feet and it was increasing by one inch per hour.
Mufti Sayeed said the Government has released Rs 35 crores immediately for providing help to flood victims from out of State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). Rs 25 crores have been kept at the disposal of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Rs 10 crores at the disposal of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, he added.
Asserting that there was no need to panic, he said the administration was on the job with focus on de-watering. “A comprehensive evacuation plan has been formulated, if the need arises. We will go by the assessment of experts on evacuation,” he added.
He said separate Control Rooms have been opened at South, Central and North Kashmir with representation of civil and police administration and Army. He complimented the Ministers, who were camping in Srinagar to co-ordinate with the administration the rescue and relief measures.
“After being requisitioned, the Army placed 20 Flood Relief Columns ready to react and deploy at short notice. In addition various flood relief stores and equipment have been sidestepped and 30 BAUTs (Boat Assault Universal Type) have been kept ready for deployment at short notice. BAUTs have been shifted from Srinagar to South Kashmir and from North Kashmir to Srinagar. The BAUTs have been placed for rescue operations at Pulwama, Kulgam, Baramulla and Khanabal for rescue operations. In addition 11 Army’s rescue BAUTs have been placed at BB Cantonment, four at Haft Chinar and four at Tattoo Ground in Srinagar itself,” a Defence spokesman said.
Official sources said the Centre would send eight fully equipped NDRF teams to Kashmir to assist the State Government in its efforts to safeguard life and property in the wake of the flood situation in the Valley.
“Eight fully equipped NDRF teams will be arriving in Kashmir to assist the State Government in its efforts to safeguard life and property of people in the wake of flood situation arisen due to incessant rains that lashed the Valley during past few days,” they said.
Two NDRF teams comprising 100 personnel have already been rushed by an IAF plane from Bhatinda in Punjab to Srinagar.
Union Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, who had an hour-long meeting through video conferencing with Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey, assured that the Centre would provide all help necessary in dealing with the situation and eight NDRF teams will be rushed to the State immediately from New Delhi, Patna and other places.
The Union Cabinet Secretary asked the NDRF to keep necessary equipment and more boats ready if a need arise to send them at a very short notice to the Valley or any other part of the State for rescue operations, the spokesman said.
The NDRF teams will be stationed in South, Central and North Kashmir to assist the local administration in its efforts, he said.
Khandey told Seth that three joint control rooms in South, North and Central Kashmir have been set up and transport facilities arranged for facilitating rapid mobilization of boats to rescue and evacuate people in case any area gets flooded.
“We are ready and fully geared up to meet any eventuality,” the State Chief Secretary said.
No breach in Jhelum or the flood spill channel has been reported so far and the administration has kept ready sand bags to raise and fortify embankments, Khandey informed Seth.
Khandey said during the last few days, heavy rains coupled with melting snow has led to rapid increase in the discharge of rivers and rivulets.
He said that all available pumps have been pressed into service to drain out water from inundated areas.
Relief camps have been established at identified locations and these have been provided with adequate quantity of ration, water, fuel, blankets and other necessary items, he said.
Khandey said that stocks of LPG, Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene oil are available for meeting the requirements for next 10 to 15 days. However, 2,000 trucks are held up on the closed National Highway and if it could be opened at the earliest, stock position will automatically improve.
On availability of medicines, the Chief Secretary said that adequate supplies are available besides all health institutions have been put on high alert and control rooms established in various hospitals.
All CMOs, BMOs and Medical Superintendents have been asked to ensure necessary arrangements are put in place in hospitals to fully deal with any eventuality.
He said small DG sets have also been hired by the hospitals to provide alternate source of electricity should power supplies snap.
Seth, during the meeting, gave directions to the authorities concerned to make the National Highway and other roads trafficable, besides ensuring that unlike the September floods, communication facilities do not collapse and are kept active at all cost.
Khandey said during the last few days, heavy rains coupled with melting snow has led to rapid increase in the discharge of rivers and rivulets.
He said that all available pumps have been pressed into service to drain out water from inundated areas.
Relief camps have been established at identified locations and these have been provided with adequate quantity of ration, water, fuel, blankets and other necessary items, he said.
Sources said the NDRF teams to Kashmir are carrying 16 rubberized inflatable boats, four diving sets, 80 life jackets, 80 life buoys, two satellite phones and all other necessary equipments to deal with the situation.
“The teams are also equipped with modern communication gadgets like V-Sat, HF and VHF communication sets including satellite phones to be in communication with higher headquarter and to give minute to minute updates of situation for further planning of operation,” they said.
They added that the Indian Air Force today dispatched two planes loads of relief material to rain-hit Srinagar.
The IAF has pressed its Gujraj plane IL-76 into service for the purpose.
“Two IL-76 cargo planes have been dispatched to Srinagar with NDRF load from Bhatinda,” sources said.
In his statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said one person has died and 10 others are trapped in debris of a house which collapsed in Budgam district of Kashmir valley due to floods.
“An unfortunate event has occurred in Laldan area of Budgam district where 10 people have been trapped in the house debris,” he said.
“We hope and pray that all of them survive. As of now we are not in a position to confirm either way,” he said.
Sayeed said police has already reached the spot and “we will try our best that all of them will survive”.
He said there was an “unfortunate” death in Udhampur and there have been some flash floods in Jammu as well. We are watching the situation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Armed forces have launched a rescue operation by deploying 20 columns in the State and kept helicopters on standby.
“The Army has placed 20 flood relief columns ready to react and deploy at short notice”, Public Relation Officer (PRO), Defence (Northern Command), Col S D Goswami told the Excelsior.
One Army column consists of 75 to 100 troops.
“Due to incessant rains and rising levels of water above danger levels at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh, Indian Army was formally requisitioned for aid to civil authorities for floods for Srinagar District from Civil Administration on the evening of 30th March”, Col Goswami said.
In addition, various flood relief stores and equipment have been sidestepped and 30 BAUTs (Boat Assault Universal Type) have been kept ready for deployment at short notice, he said.
The Army spokesman said that BAUTs have been shifted from Srinagar to South Kashmir and from North Kashmir to Srinagar. “The BAUTs have been placed for rescue operations at Pulwama, Kulgam, Baramulla and Khanabal for rescue operations”, he said.
In addition, 11 Army’s rescue BAUTs have been placed at BB Cantt, four at Haft Chinar and four at Tattoo Ground in Srinagar itself, he added.
He said that Engineer Task Forces have also been kept on standby in 15 and 16 Corps area. “In addition water pumps have been placed at Shivpora, Srinagar for de-watering and additional pumps have been placed at Badami Bagh Cantonment for utilizing in flood affected areas at short notice”.
A Joint Control Room (JCR) has been established by Army at Badami Bagh Cantonment, he said, adding that Officer Representatives have also been provided for JCRs established by Civil Administration at Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla. Emergency Contact Nos of the Army JCR is 2701083.
The Indian Air Force has placed its resources on standby and is also keeping a close watch on the flood situation in the State, Col Goswami said.
“Two Mi-17 helicopters each at Jammu, Udhampur and Srinagar. And one each Cheetah helicopter of IAF are on standby at Srinagar and Jammu to be part of rescue and relief operations”, the PRO said. “A house had collapsed at Laten in South Kashmir on 29th March. Army’s rescue column was immediately dispatched for rescue operation and operations are in progress”, Col Goswami said.
He said that an Army column with JCBs (excavators) was provided at Baramulla area for flood control operations.
Army has also undertaken strengthening of weak points on the anti-flood bund along Jhelum river at two locations in Sonawar Area, Col Goswami said, adding that continuous vigil of areas along River Jhelum, slide and avalanche prone areas is being maintained.
IAF has assured civil administration of all possible assistance in this time of crisis, he added.
“As part of rescue and relief operations the troops of Army’s White Knight Corps in a daring act rescued 24 villagers of Chandak villagers near Kalai bridge”, he added.
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