Water recedes, anger spills over on Kashmir streets
12 Sept 2014 5:27 AM IST
Army vehicles were pelted with stones as they tried to make their way through the city, loaded with supplies including water and food. A group of spare boats kept on stand-by for soldiers were grabbed by a mob. In the morning, four Air Force helicopters with relief material could not land at the helipad at the Governor’s residence after threats of stoning from people who thought VIPs were the intended beneficiaries.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, said, ‘We understand people can be upset. The army will remain on the job till the last man is rescued.’ Angry citizens blame the state government under Omar Abdullah also for not doing enough.
Meanwhile, under Mission Sahayata, the massive relief operation by the Indian armed forces in the marooned Kashmir Valley, 77,000 stranded citizens were rescued till Wednesday. On Wednesday alone, despite angry protests in some areas, 97 air sorties were carried out to rescue another 27,000.
In the Jammu region of the Himalayan state, working day and night, the Army managed to restore road link between Rajouri and Poonch. Srinagar-Jammu highway, however, remained closed though Mata Vaisno Devi pilgrimages moved smoothly. Rail services have also been restored between Udhampur and Katra.
General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Wednesday reviewed the flood situation in the Himalayan state and took stock of the rescue and relief operations by the armed forces in the flood-ravaged state. More relief material including 2000 hospital bedsheets, blankets, tents, water bottles and cooked food were airlifted on Wednesday to the flood-hit state.
According to official sources 80 transport aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force and the Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service. So far 710 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces, out of which 97 sorties were undertaken on Wednesday itself. Army’s 135 boats and 148 inflatable boats from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were actively involved in the rescue operation.
Facing criticism for inactivity, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah joined the relief operations on Wednesday, dropping relief material from the helicopters. Terming the flood situation in the flood-ravaged Kashmir valley as ‘very serious’, Abdullah on Wednesday said he understood the anger of the people affected by the ‘unprecedented’ catastrophe.
Omar also dismissed criticism of his government in the handling of the flood crisis, saying joint efforts involving various agencies including his administration are being made to help people tide over the crisis. The chief minister said there was no ‘weakness’ in coordination between the forces on ground and the state government is working together with the armed forces.
‘I am in touch with the Army, the Navy and trying to make sure that the right stuff reaches the right place and we are able to achieve the stuff properly. We are not able to communicate with the people,’ he said. He said the main source of worry for him was the likely spread of diseases after the water level in flood-hit areas recedes.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, said, ‘We understand people can be upset. The army will remain on the job till the last man is rescued.’ Angry citizens blame the state government under Omar Abdullah also for not doing enough.
Meanwhile, under Mission Sahayata, the massive relief operation by the Indian armed forces in the marooned Kashmir Valley, 77,000 stranded citizens were rescued till Wednesday. On Wednesday alone, despite angry protests in some areas, 97 air sorties were carried out to rescue another 27,000.
In the Jammu region of the Himalayan state, working day and night, the Army managed to restore road link between Rajouri and Poonch. Srinagar-Jammu highway, however, remained closed though Mata Vaisno Devi pilgrimages moved smoothly. Rail services have also been restored between Udhampur and Katra.
General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Wednesday reviewed the flood situation in the Himalayan state and took stock of the rescue and relief operations by the armed forces in the flood-ravaged state. More relief material including 2000 hospital bedsheets, blankets, tents, water bottles and cooked food were airlifted on Wednesday to the flood-hit state.
According to official sources 80 transport aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force and the Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service. So far 710 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces, out of which 97 sorties were undertaken on Wednesday itself. Army’s 135 boats and 148 inflatable boats from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were actively involved in the rescue operation.
Facing criticism for inactivity, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah joined the relief operations on Wednesday, dropping relief material from the helicopters. Terming the flood situation in the flood-ravaged Kashmir valley as ‘very serious’, Abdullah on Wednesday said he understood the anger of the people affected by the ‘unprecedented’ catastrophe.
Omar also dismissed criticism of his government in the handling of the flood crisis, saying joint efforts involving various agencies including his administration are being made to help people tide over the crisis. The chief minister said there was no ‘weakness’ in coordination between the forces on ground and the state government is working together with the armed forces.
‘I am in touch with the Army, the Navy and trying to make sure that the right stuff reaches the right place and we are able to achieve the stuff properly. We are not able to communicate with the people,’ he said. He said the main source of worry for him was the likely spread of diseases after the water level in flood-hit areas recedes.
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