Lakhs stranded in flood-hit J-K

• Telecom links snapped in state adding to the miseries of the affected
• Death toll inches towards 200, Centre rushes more NDRF teams
• Marine commandos deployed for first time in massive rescue operations
• Shivraj, J jayalalitha announce Rs five crore each to flood-ravaged state

Srinagar/Jammu: Lakhs of people still remain stranded in the Valley where massive rescue operations were underway on a war-footing after floods ravaged Jammu and Kashmir and telecom links with Srinagar were snapped adding to the miseries of the affected.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Tamil Nadu chief Minister J jayalalitha announced an aid of Rs five crore each to flood-ravaged state.

As the death toll in the worst flooding to hit the state in six decades inched towards 200, the Centre has rushed more National Disaster Response Forces(NDRF) teams equipped with boats and other flood relief equipment. Naval commandos were also deployed for the first time. Army, Air Force, NDRF and state agencies have so far rescued more than 25,000 people and lodged them in higher places in the Valley.

There was only slight drizzle in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley in some relief after the state was pounded by rains since Tuesday even as the water level in many flood-hit areas slowly began to recede. The water level in Dal Lake in Srinagar is, however, rising. Naval marine commandos were deployed for the first time in the massive multi-agency rescue operations that were underway in flood-ravaged areas. "The situation in Kashmir Valley still remains critical," Lt Gen D S Hooda, General-Officer-Commanding of the Army's Northern Command, told reporters in Udhampur. "In the next 48 hours our focus remains on Srinagar," he said. NDRF chief O P Singh said the flood situation in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley was "very acute".

IAF choppers and transport aircraft undertook several sorties as relief work was extended for the first time to South Kashmir. Army rescued 1400 of its personnel and their families caught in flood waters in its headquarters at Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar.

The Army has deployed 184 columns (75-100 personnel each) while IAF has deployed 29 planes and helicopters. Over 13,000 people have been rescued from various areas by the Army and the IAF.

Areas like Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian in south and central Kashmir are completely cut off with roads and bridges swept away. The state government has ordered all schools to remain closed till September 12. Many people are now living in relief camps and temporary shelters.

Vaishnodevi Yatra resumes
Jammu: Pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in Trikuta Hills of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district resumed on Monday morning after remaining suspended for four consecutive days in view of heavy rains, with 17,700 pilgrims proceeding towards the cave shrine.

The pilgrimage was, however, resumed only through the old route as the two new tracks were still closed in view of landslides. "Yatra to the cave shrine resumed this morning after remaining suspended for four days in view of heavy rains and bad weather conditions," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB) Mandeep K Bhandari said.