The fear of inevitable is coming true with passage of days and the stagnant water receding from the flooded localities of Srinagar. State Govt will have to speed up preventive actions to counter the emerging danger of epidemics. Initial symptoms are there and they are increasing day-by-day. The city has been under siege for the last fortnight with garbage, carcass and sewage waste floating making it deadly combination for the outbreak of diaorhea, increasing cases of skin irritation, chest infections. As the water recedes the number of cases would increase manifold. Is the government ready to deal with such an alarming situation? Is the question staring at everyone. The answer could be a big ‘NO’ given the ground realities. There is need to rush large quantities of disinfectants and antibiotic drugs to fight water borne diseases. Govt needs to mobilise large scale cleaning and clearing. The another big issue is getting the infrastructure back on the rail along with countering the danger of crumbling buildings which have been in water for the last over two weeks. The Chief Minister was told that the flood water in many waterlogged Srinagar city localities is being drained with the help of high volume suction pumps followed by massive cleaning up drive. Scores of animal carcasses have also been properly disposed and the drive is going on war footing. Despite all the efforts from the NDRF and army, locals feel that enough is not being done in the relief operations. Several people are still missing in the submerged colonies in Srinagar. A new face of communal harmony too was visible in the otherwise volatile state as the Jama Masjid in Hyderpora area has turned into a major relief center for the flood-affected victims, housing hundreds of people, including women and children. Seeing the gravity of the situation the Supreme Court had to ask the Centre to explain what relief and rescue measures it has taken to rehabilitate those affected. A concerted effort from all the agencies involved in rescue and rehabilitation is the need of the hour before the situation goes out of hand.
