Srinagar, September 10, (Scoop News)_A massive rescue and relief operations by Indian army is continuing on a war footing across Jammu and Kashmir with over 76,500 persons rescued so far by the Armed Forces and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in different regions of the Himalayan state, a defence spokesman told Scoop News.
He said 79 transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corp have been pressed into service. Army has deployed 329 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations, in which 244 columns deployed in Srinagar region and 85 columns in Jammu region.
The spokesman said the army has distributed 8,200 blankets and 650 tents besides 1,50,000 litres of water, 2.6 tonne of biscuit, 7 tonne baby food and 28,000 food packets in the flood-affected areas.
Additional water bottles are being airlifted from Chandigarh and Delhi. In an endeavor to provide speedy medical aid to the affected populace, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have also swung into action.
The spokesman said more relief materials including 2000 hospital bed sheets, blankets and tents, water bottles and cooked food are being airlifted on Wednesday.
So far, he said, 613 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces and 715 tonnes of relief materials are dropped by the Indian Air Force.
135 Army bauts and 148 NDRF’s inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operation.
To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which include 5700 personnel, have been pressed into service.
As of now, they (BRO) have restored the road connectivity between Batote– Kishtwar and Kishtwar – Sinthan Pass. Work between Sinthan Pass and Anantnagis in progress and Jammu to KM 172 is open for light vehicular traffic.
Jammu – Poonch road has been already cleared for traffic, he said.
Fifteen engineering task force teams along with boats and other lifesaving equipment have already reached the flood affected areas to supplement the rescue operation.
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