Almost 215 columns of 70 soldiers each are now deployed to conduct the operation. Army sources say that this number will increase to 300 columns, possibly by Tuesday as ‘more and more boats are deployed.’ The boats are meant to rescue people marooned in a ‘rising water level of at least 20 feet at present.’
On Monday, the new army chief, General Dalbir Singh stated in clear terms: ‘Indian Army will not move back to the barracks till the last man is brought to safety.’ This unequivocal statement shows not only the Indian army’s crucial disaster management role in most crises of the country, but it also reflects the intent to bring the Kashmiris closer to the agency of the New Delhi government that has been often seen as an oppressor.
In the process, it will be important on the part of the army – as the primary disaster relief force on the ground - to keep at bay any sectarian organisation that seeks to exploit the people’s current misery for future gains in terms of their support to their narrow and ‘bigoted’ causes.
‘The army has set-up 15 medical camps in areas from Srinagar to Udhampur with 65 medical teams and 15 engineer task forces (ETFs) are deployed and airlifting of 4 additional ETFs and 10 medical teams is underway,’ said army sources.
On Monday, the new army chief, General Dalbir Singh stated in clear terms: ‘Indian Army will not move back to the barracks till the last man is brought to safety.’ This unequivocal statement shows not only the Indian army’s crucial disaster management role in most crises of the country, but it also reflects the intent to bring the Kashmiris closer to the agency of the New Delhi government that has been often seen as an oppressor.
In the process, it will be important on the part of the army – as the primary disaster relief force on the ground - to keep at bay any sectarian organisation that seeks to exploit the people’s current misery for future gains in terms of their support to their narrow and ‘bigoted’ causes.
‘The army has set-up 15 medical camps in areas from Srinagar to Udhampur with 65 medical teams and 15 engineer task forces (ETFs) are deployed and airlifting of 4 additional ETFs and 10 medical teams is underway,’ said army sources.