The armed forces and the National Disaster Response Force have rescued 42,587 persons from different regions of flood and landslide ravaged Jammu and Kashmir.
A statement issued by the army said that massive rescue and relief operations continue in Jammu and Kashmir with more helicopters and rescue materials including boats pressed into service today.
The army has deployed 215 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations, in which 130 columns deployed in Srinagar region and 85 columns in Jammu region. They have distributed 7,200 blankets and 210 tents.
The army also distributed 42,000 litres of water, 600 kilograms of biscuit, 7 tonne baby food and 1000 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.
So far 354 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Indian Air Force and 459 tonnes of relief materials are dropped by the Indian Air Force. Altogether 61 aircraft and helicopters have been pressed into action.
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110 Army boats and 148 NDRF's inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operation.
BSNL with the assistance of the Armed Forces is trying hard to restore its mobile services through satellite network and the telecom network at the earliest. Besides, Air Force communication equipment and a team from private telecom company are being airlifted from Delhi.
Fifteen engineering task force teams along with boats and other lifesaving equipment have already reached the flood affected areas to supplement the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, road connectivity of the flood affected Kashmir valley has been restored from the Leh region due to concerted efforts of the Indian Army Engineers and the Border Roads Organisation. The connectivity will be a major boost for the ongoing relief operations being undertaken by the Army in the Kashmir Valley.
The army is now mobilizing the existing stocks in Leh to provide essential supplies to the beleaguered Kashmir valley. The urgent requirement of food, water and medicines will be moved from the Army holdings in Ladakh while additional stocks are being inducted via Manali to provide relief to the people in the Kashmir valley.
The opening of the road to Srinagar via Leh and Manali has provided an avenue for land connectivity to the region, which remained cutoff from rest of the country for the past seven days.