Flood Fury: 250 dead and counting
67,000 evacuated in 13 days
Lal Chowk, Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Indira Nagar still water-logged
Carcasses of livestock, filth lying on water bodies, roads
About 250 people have died in the floods across the State with the evacuation and de-watering of waterlogged areas continuing still for the 13th day on Thursday.
Top government officials said majority of deaths in the floods were reported from Jammu region.
They said 60 people have died in Kashmir region while about 190 deaths have been reported from Jammu. Over 67,000 people have been evacuated from the submerged waters.
According to officials, the death toll could be much more as many civil lines areas of Rajbagh, Jawhar Nagar, Indira Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Padshahi Bagh, Karan Nagar are still under water.
Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, Vinod Koul, told us that maximum deaths were reported from Jammu region.
He said on the basis of reports received from Deputy Commissioners in the Valley, 60 people have died in Kashmir.
“On Tuesday we retrieved six bodies from Jawahar Nagar area, which seems to be among the worst hit areas,” Koul said.
What was adding to woes of the people was that many areas were still water-logged. Even city centre and business hub Lal Chowk is under water.
The threat of epidemic was looming large as lot of filth and garbage was lying on roads and lanes. In most areas of the city, garbage bins have been filled and waste was strewn on the roads. The floating bodies of animals are adding to the stink. This has increased fears of spread of infectious diseases.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, said directions have been issued to the Municipal authorities to clear the carcasses of live stock and filth on priority basis.
“Most of the staff of Srinagar Municipal Corporation has been pressed into the job,” he said.
Kansal said the government is bringing in water pumps from outside the State to drain water from the areas, which are still inundated.
“Some of the water pumps of SMC could not be used as they were under water. However, we have got the pumps from other departments for dewatering,” he said.
