Reeling under one of the worst calamities Jammu and Kashmir is telling a story of large scale devastation nature can cause to man’s greed. Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region were the first to face brunt of nature’s fury. Already under militancy the floods at this time have crippled the State completely. But the only ray of hope the marooned could see was men in olive green. Hats off to forces who took control of the rescue and relief operations from day one otherwise the human loss could have been much larger than what it speaks now. With over 2,600 villages under water and over 200 dead, administration overwhelmed over the catastrophe it was the army man who stood on the ground lending a helping hand to the flood affected in the State. It is the same hand which fought the enemy across the borders and militants to protect the Awaam. The defence forces have emerged as the only life line like in Uttarakhand in 2013. Indian Air Force has been almost flying non-stop sorties ferrying men, medicines, food items, blankets, tents, boats for the marooned. This could be the largest relief operation carried out by defence forces in recent times. Adding to the selfless spirit is Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag’s declaration that his “soldiers won’t return to the barracks till the last survivour is rescued” signifies the spirit in which the operations are carried out. The yeoman services rendered by men from Northern Command will go into the annals of history as the largest relief and rescue operations carried out in a short notice while fighting militancy simultaneously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s offer of extending assistance to the flood affected Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) has opened a new window in diplomacy. Close to half a million people have been affected by floods in Pakistan and authorities are bracing to save some major towns along the Chenab River, which has already left a trail of devastation. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reciprocated with warmth. This small gesture sure will open new vistas in neghbourhood relations.
