It will be a long, long haul for the people of Kashmir to resume their normal life but a semblance of normalcy is beginning to emerge with waters receding in various places and being pumped out from several other colonies.
In a major relief, the Jammu-Sringar National Highway reopened for traffic today after remaining closed for 13 days, a development that will give a boost to relief efforts in the flood-ravaged Kashmir Valley.
The extent of damage caused by floods in Kashmir is still unfolding as people who had left their marooned houses or were evacuated are now going back to their homes to check the damage as water level is receding and dewatering has gained momentum.
Water has receded to a large extent in Jhelum river and the main flood canal, which kept overflowing for at least three days and caused unprecedented flooding in residential areas.
A number of areas have been cleared of water while dewatering is being done in several colonies of Srinagar city by pumps of ONGC and fire services.
Several areas still remain marooned, particularly in the old city, but relief material is being sent to the people who have been temporarily shifted to some safe places within the flooded areas.
