Water supply, communication links partially restored in Valley

Srinagar, Sep 11: Twenty per cent of the water supply has been restored in Kashmir and efforts are being made on war footing to restore communication links, both physical and telecom, in the Valley which is witnessing the worst floods in six decades.

Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered all government employees to report to duty by this evening so that efforts can be ramped up to salvage the situation.

"Twenty per cent of the water supply has been restored and telecom services have been restored partially. Efforts are on to clear the roads," Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Rohit Kansal said.

Water supply has been severely affected in half of Kashmir. Kansal said in a bid to step up relief operations, the administration has ordered all state government employees to report to duty by this evening. He also asserted that all deposits of account holders in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank are safe.

Giving an overview of the extent of damage after floods struck the Valley, Kansal said out of the 12 districts of Kashmir, eight were affected either fully or partially affecting 20 lakh people. Four of the districts were cut off.

The floods resulted in damage of 50 bridges and 170 km of roads, he said. At least 45,000 people have been evacuated either by air or boats by rescuers. At least 5000 people, mostly belonging to other states, have been airlifted out of the flood ravaged state.

The authorities have set up 150 relief camps where one lakh people have taken shelter even as 200 tonnes of relief material has been supplied so far.

SDM Srinagar Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said the first priority is to rescue the marooned people. It is a collective effort to salvage the situation in which the NDRF has a key role.

Shah said the administration is working hard to restore normalcy and the help of the community has also been sought. He also pointed out that more relief supplies are required to give solace to the flood-affected people.

PTI