flood more photos from jemmu and kashmirAt Least 70 Dead as Floods Wreck Havoc across J&K. Cabinet Postpones Routine Agenda,Punjab Help Sought. The government on Thursday confirmed that at least 20 people are dead across Jammu and Kashmir due to flash floods and 50 are feared dead after a crowded bus was swept away by a flooded stream in Rajouri district. Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference, Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather said that Cabinet has announced Rs 10 crore each to the Jammu and Kashmir divisions for the flood affected people. “20 persons have died due to floods in Kashmir and Jammu regions and 50 houses have been damaged across the State, while no casually has been reported from Leh and Kargil districts so far,” Rather said. He said that 500 water supply schemes have been damaged due to floods.”Bus carrying 50 passengers got washed away at Nowshera in Rajouri district where exact number of causalities is being ascertained,” he said. The Cabinet directed the concerned authorities to shift the affected people to safer shelters on higher ground and open community kitchens for them in such shelters. The authorities were directed to concentrate their efforts on the immediate rescue of the affected people and get down to the assessment of damages after the rescue operations are completed. Rather said that Cabinet that was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah postponed the routine agenda and discussed only the flood related situation that has created havoc across the State. Giving the figures of the people who lost the lives in the floods, Rather said, “In three districts of Anantnag, Budgam and Baramulla. Six people lost their lives due to floods while seven died in Poonch, six in Reasi and one in Doda.” He was flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and chief secretary Iqbal Khanday. Rather said that government is making the assessment of human losses due to the floods. Rather said that efforts are on to ensure safety and security of people in the flood hit areas. He said the MeT department has predicted that rainfall would continue for two more days. Stating that government has asked help from the Punjab government to send boats which are on the way for the rescue operations. Rahim Rather said that 60 percent water supply schemes have been affected due to the fresh floods. Divulging details about the Rajouri incident, he said that three people have been rescued while as 55 are feared dead. He said rescue operation is going on to save the washed away passengers. Rather said that atleast 150 houses have been damaged across Jammu and Kashmir. “These are tentative figures and the final assessment will be made later,” he said. He said necessary steps are been taken to evacuate the affected people. Rather said that government was not predicting such a heavy rainfall that caused heavy damage to the humans, property and crops. “We will provide all relief to the affected people,” he said. He said that THE WATER level of Jehlum at Sangam was 30.7 feet which is 7 feet above danger level. Meanwhile scores of villages, especially in south Kashmir areas, have been inundated with flood waters as police assisted by the army shifted families to safer places.Seven labourers have been trapped by flood waters of Ferozepur stream in Kunzar (Tangmarg) area of Baramulla district. These labourers were working at a stone crusher, a senior police official said. Efforts to rescue the trapped labourers by a helicopter could not take place Wednesday evening due to inclement weather. We plan to launch the aerial rescue today (Thursday), the officer said. Flood waters entered Srinagar citys bone and joint hospital in the Barzalla area when it breached the embankment of the Doodh Ganga channel. Flood waters and water logging due to inadequate drainage also inundated Safa Kadal, Eidgah, Nowshehra, Soura, Residency Road and several others areas in the city. Meanwhile Flood water entered dozens of villages of Homshalibugh constituency in district Kulgam and the local MLA alleged that government has completely failed to reach to the affected areas. He announced that he himself will pay for the boats used to rescue the affected people. Reports said that the villages like Kaimoh,Wanigund,Redwani,Payeen and Redwani Bala,Naabal,Naabal,Batepora,Hassanpora,Shamsipora,Laktipora,Kujar,Chanpora,Wedow,Batkooot,Hajan and Kadipora are completely submerged under water. “When we talk of Kaimoh, it means dozens of villages who’s people are disconnected from each other and there is no boat to take them to SAFER places,” a local resident told Kashmir Life over phone. MLA Humshalibugh, Abdul Gaffal Sofi alleged that government has not reached the affected areas and he has reports that people are doing everything on their own. “In this situation I have told my workers to arrange boats to rescue people,” Sofi said adding “I will myself pay for the boats.” Reports said that nallah Vaishav is overflowing the banks and THE WATER has reached up to Shirpora and Alamdar Colony near Kaimoh and Arwani. Meanwhile, people from at least 30 villages in Pulwama district have left their houses for SAFER places in view of the flood waters entering the hamlets. The affected villages include Gulzarpora, Halmula, Sethar, Kaichbehkut, Chersu, Sail, Wandakhpur, Tulkhun and Hanjipora. Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Rohit Kansal has enjoined upon all Deputy Commissioners, all concerned Heads of Departments and District Superintendents of Police to further reinforce their manpower and machinery and to be in a State of full preparedness so as to minimize disruption of essential services, road Connectivity, electric supply, water supply, Healthcare services etc and take immediate measures to evacuate people trapped in flood areas. Further, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Shopian, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Leh and Kargil have been asked to advise the people living in flood prone areas and on the embankments of the rivers/streams to shift from their houses to safer places, so as to avert any untoward incident. He has further asked the Deputy Commissioners to oversee the functioning of Joint control rooms in their respective districts.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:13:04 +0000
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