More than 96,000 rescued in Jammu and Kashmir: Officials

New Delhi, Sep 11: More than 96,000 people have been rescued so far from various parts of the flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir by the armed forces and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a defence ministry statement said on Thursday.

Eighty-four transport aircraft and helicopters of the air force and the Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service, the statement issued here said.

The army has deployed around 30,000 troops for rescue and relief operations - 21,000 troops in the Srinagar region and 9,000 troops in the Jammu region.

In order to provide speedy medical aid to the affected populace, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services are operating in fullswing.

"Till now, they have treated more than 21,500 patients," the statement said.

The armed forces personnel are also distributing water bottles and food packets on a large scale.

More relief material, including blankets and tents, water bottles and food packets, are being air-lifted from Hyderabad, Baroda, Amritsar, Ambala and Delhi, the defence ministry said.

It said that so far 930 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of the armed forces. A total of 1,237 tonnes of relief material has been dropped for the marooned people by the air force.

Keeping in view the urgent requirements for the rescue operation, the army has deployed 90 more boats in Srinagar and adjoining areas.

The armed forces have also established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu regions.

To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of the Border Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been pressed into service.

IANS