Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 16: Rescuers have recovered four bodies from a house in Jawahar Nagar area that has been worst hit by last week’s floods, where at least 14 people, mostly the labourers were living.
Rescue workers retrieved four bodies from a house in Jawahar Nagar area that collapsed on September 7 morning where at least 14 people, mostly laborers were living.
Reyaz Ahmad, a rescue worker told Excelsior: “We have recovered 4 bodies from the debris of a house No 354 behind DAV School, Jawahar Nagar,that collapsed on September 7. These include three children. We are searching the other 9-10 bodies that are still lying under the debris. Water logging is hampering our efforts.”
Reyaz said that they were knowing about the deaths in the house collapse but the priority was to rescue the people who were trapped. “Now water level has receded, we are trying to look for dead bodies”, he added.
The Rescue worker said that two bodies were taken out last evening and two in the afternoon today. “Our concern is that dogs are eating the bodies,” he said.
Authorities yesterday launched a massive dewatering operation in Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh and Gogjibagh areas of the city by pressing in 30 dewatering pumps, including 2 water pumps provided by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
D Anjaneyulu, Deputy Superintending Engineer ONGC told Excelsior that since the area is huge the water level has receded by eight inches only since yesterday.
“We are operating two pumps for de-watering in posh areas of Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh and Gogjibagh since yesterday. The water level in the area has receded by 8 inches since we started de-watering. One pump drains out 10,000 litres of water per minutes. It is a huge area and it will take time.”
With the re-opening of the National Highway, the people are expecting that the essential supply position will improve.
The Defence spokesman said that over 2.37 lakh persons have been rescued so far by the Armed Forces and NDRF from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the flood ravaged State. “Three teams of Naval Marine Commandos are actively involved in rescue operations at Watlab, Widipura and Tankpura”, he added.
The spokesman said that as the flood water has started receding the apprehension for water-borne diseases is rising. Now demand for filtered water has increased.
“Twenty RO plants with a capacity to filter 4 lakhs litre per day from Hyderabad and four RO plants from Delhi with a capacity to filter 1 lakh litre per day have already been airlifted to Srinagar. Thirteen tonnes of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day was sent earlier to Srinagar. More heavy duty suction pumps have also been transported from Jodhpur and Raipur to the Valley”, the spokesman said.
“33,000 blankets were airlifted to the flood-affected area, yesterday, which were donated by Ministry of Textile and Government of Jharkhand and Punjab. Earlier 17,500 blankets and 2106 tents were provided to the flood victims. 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services are already operating in full swing. Four Army Field Hospitals have been established in Avantipur, Pattan, Anantnag and Old Airfield where medical aid is being provided to the ailing people. Till now they have treated around 75,254 patients. Two additional fully equipped field hospitals with laboratory testing equipment facility have also been established in Srinagar. One rapid action medical team from Air Force has been deployed at Avantipur and Srinagar. This team has provided medical aid to 2,684 patients. More relief materials including 17,200 blankets from Ranchi and Delhi, 4000 litres of water from Pathankot and 120 tonnes food from Pathankot and Delhi are being airlifted”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that 64 transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps are continuing their efforts in rescue and relief operations. “Army has deployed around 30,000 troops for rescue and relief operations in the flood affected area. Over 6 lakh litres of water and over 1400 tonnes of food packets/cooked food and ration have already been distributed in the flood-affected areas”, he added.
“So far 2633 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces and 3887 tonnes of relief materials have been dropped by the Indian Air Force. A total of 224 boats of Army and 148 NDRF’s inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operation”, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “Armed Forces have also established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu region. In Srinagar region, camps were established at BB Cantt, Avantipur, Old Airfield, Sumbal, Chattargam and Jijamata Mandir, where thousands of rescued people are being sheltered. They are also being provided with food and other basic amenities.”
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