Srinagar: Anger and frustration against the local administration is mounting as families continue to be stranded on the roofs for the fourth day in row, with water surrounding them nearly 10 feet high. Â
Four Air Force helicopters, carrying supplies, could not land this morning at the helipad at the Governor’s residence, after threats of stoning. In the Rambagh area of Srinagar on Monday, two rescue workers from NRDF on a boat were reportedly attacked with sticks; their boat was punctured. One of the workers was injured.
So far, nearly 76, 000 people have been brought to safety by tireless efforts of the armed forces and the National Disaster Response Force (NRDF). Also, 8,200 blankets and 650 tents so far to those affected by the floods.
The Army has distributed 150,000 litres of water, 2.6 tonnes of biscuits, seven tonnes of baby food and 28,000 food packets in the flood-affected areas. “Additional water bottles are being air-lifted from Chandigarh and Delhi. In an endeavour to provide speedy medical aid to the affected populace, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have also swung into action,” the defence ministry statement said.
The Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain closed for the seventh day Wednesday, but traffic on the over 440-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway was restored Tuesday. This road connects the Kashmir Valley with the Ladakh region.
An acute crisis of petrol and kerosene had hit the Valley. On Wednesday, all filing stations in Srinagar said they had run out of fuel.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last evening said, “I understand the anger but it is not true that nothing is happening… this situation is unprecedented.”
A lot of people seem to have underestimated the fury of the floods. “We asked people to move out of their homes and sent vehicles, but many did not do so believing that the water would subside,” Abdullah said.
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