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Simmering with anti-Omar feel; flood victims mock cops, saying Govt is still alive
9/15/2014 12:02:55 AM
Bashir Assad

Srinagar, Sept 14: About ten days after the devastating floods in Srinagar, the remnants of the state administration today marked their 'guest entry' in the capital city. Interestingly, wherever some officials of the administration were seen, thousands of flood-hit residents who are now living on the roads scoffed at their token appearance.
Some cops were seen moving about on the Rambagh bridge today, where the flood-victims have made their makeshift homes. On seeing the cops, the residents were seen telling each other, "Lo ji, sarkar abhi zinda hai. Omar Abdullah ke police wale kahin kahin dikh rahey hain (See, the government is still alive. Omar Abdullah's policemen are seen at some places now)."
Even as water has receded from some areas, large residential areas of Srinagar are still under four to six feet of water. This has left the state administration and Army rescue teams confused about how water will be drained out of these low-lying areas.
Till ten days ago, these were some of the busiest, densely populated areas of Srinagar on both sides of the Jhelum. Today, they are the worst flood-hit zones. Thousands of people have been evacuated from these colonies, which are now stinking with the carcasses of animals floating in the water. These areas are below the level of the river. It is worrisome that even though water has gone down in Jhelum, these areas are still in the grip of flood and are vulnerable to epidemic break-out.
On one side of the river are Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Gogjibagh, Wazirbagh, Tulsibagh and adjoining areas. On the other side of the Jhelum are Tengpora, Firdousabad, Batmaloo, Bilalabad, Balgarden, Karan Nagar, Gonighan, Iqbal Park, Mehjoor Nagar, Padshahibagh, Soiteng and some other colonies.
The situation is similar in low-lying areas on the periphery of Dal Lake.
The state administration today pressed into service 15 machines to pump out flood water from Jawahar Nagar and Rajbagh. Six tenders of the Fire Brigade Department are also being used to pump out water from these areas. It is evident that this equipment will not be enough to drain out the water and an extensive effort will be required for the purpose.
Officials associated with the Army rescue teams also said that the state administration will have to undertake efforts on war footing to remove the carcasses of animals floating in the flood water. They said that this is essential to minimize the threat of an epidemic breakout.
Makeshift homes on roads
Middle class families who had a decent standard of living till a few days ago are now sharing space in trucks parked on Lasjan and Tengpora bypass. Similar makeshift homes can be seen along Gupkar Road, one of the most posh stretches of city.
Men, women and children evacuated from flood-hit areas have no option but to move around in same set of clothes in which they were evacuated. Some families are using the road space between two parked vehicles. There was rainfall today morning, which led to a wave of panic among flood victims, rekindling the fears of the harsh days they have seen.
Largest relief operation in country
Officials say that the relief operation mounted in flood-hit Kashmir is the largest in the country. "Even though there is no road connectivity to Srinagar as of now, the scale of operation is so huge. We are confident that once road connectivity is restored, rescue and relief operations will be scaled up and will be of tremendous help in rebuilding Kashmir," said a senior Army officer.
All through the day, dozens of trucks loaded with food material, water, medicines, blankets etc can be seen moving from the airport towards the accessible areas of the city, distributing the relief material.
Stone-pelting on Army rescue team
Some senior Army officers told Early Times that rescue operations in Jahangir Chowk area were suspended today because of stone-pelting on their teams yesterday. They said the stone-pelting was done by some unscrupulous elements. But because of their actions, other people who needed help in the area suffered.
Pumping equipment sought from Pune
Sources in the state administration told Early Times that the Maharashtra government has been contacted for providing equipment to pump out water from the low-lying flooded colonies of Srinagar. Officials said the Maharashtra government has been approached because the state has efficient disaster management equipment and the expertise to deal with the situation.
This correspondent today accompanied an Army rescue team to Tulsibagh, Gogjibagh, Wazirbagh and Lal Ded Hospital on a boat. Residents of these areas who had refused to leave their houses were seen crying for water from the upper floors of their houses. In Wazirbagh, hundreds of CRPF jawans trapped in about four buildings were also shouting for water. The army teams provided drinking water in all these areas.
Eerie silence at Lal Ded Hospital
Even though Lal Ded Hospital was swarming with people on the upper floors, an eerie silence prevailed in the area. One could not hear any talking among the thin hospital staff, the patients or their attendants. Everybody seemed weary and fatigued, too tired to talk and managing somehow to deal with their problems.
Though the hospital was provided with medicines and life-saving drugs, it is still woefully short of essential supplies. Some voluntary organizations are trying to supply medicines and other relief material here.
It is tragic that food packets, milk packets and drinking water bottles which were dropped for use by rescue teams in helicopters fell in water and could not be used. There is a huge pile in the hospital of such wasted relief material.
The roof-tops of hundreds of cars are visible in the flooded parking area of Lal Ded Hospital, still submerged in water.
Newspapers unable to resume publication
The extent of flood damage is such that newspapers published from Srinagar have still not been able to resume publication. Press Enclave in Lal Chowk in the heart of the city is still in the flooded zone. Local journalists are at a loss to report anything because of the communication breakdown.
Water has receded from some areas. However, shops have not opened because many markets were completely flooded, and suffered extensive damage. Traders in some areas can be seen removing damaged goods from their shops. Traders say they are waiting for the road connectivity to Srinagar to be restored, so that they can order fresh supplies for their shops with whatever cash reserves they have.
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