| "Armed Forces rescue 1,25,000 flood-hit people" | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 12: More than 1,25,000 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 1,25,000 persons have been rescued so far by the Armed forces and NDRF from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the flood ravaged state," a Defence spokesman said.
Eighty-nine transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service, he said.
Army has deployed around 30,000 troops for rescue and relief operations, in which 21,000 troops are deployed in Srinagar region and 9,000 troops in Jammu region, the spokesman 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 tonnes cooked food have already been air dropped 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 Awantipur, 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 tonnes medicines and other health care materials are also being transported from Delhi to the flood-affected area, he said, adding, more relief materials including blankets, water bottles and food packets are being airlifted from Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Patna, Amritsar and Chandigarh.
So far 1,379 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces, he said, adding that, 1,799 tonnes of relief materials were dropped by the Indian Air Force.
A third batch of Naval Marine Commandos with rubberised inflatable craft (geminis), out board motors (OBMs), compressors, diving sets and satellite phones arrived at Srinagar yesterday to support the rescue operations, the spokesman 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, Awantipur, Old Airfield, Sumbal, Chattargam and Jijamata Mandir, where thousands of rescued people are being sheltered, he said.
Thirteen tonnes of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day, have already reached Srinagar, he said.
Two water purification plants and 7 lakh 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, he said.
To meet the immediate energy requirement, 22,000 litres of fuel from Ambala have been transported to the Valley, he said.
To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been pressed into service, 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). |
|
