Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday termed the situation serious in the area as lahks of people are still stranded in flood water.
Talking exclusively to ANI, Abdullah said, “The fact cannot be denied that the situation is very serious. Everyone is trying to reach people as soon as possible. Everybody including Army, Air Force, NDRF, police, CRPF, BSF and civil administration is trying to help people and provide relief material to them”.
“Till now the material collection process has been much slow. It takes time to collect material. But now it has speeded up. Air Force has put their biggest planes into this. There is no time when a helicopter is not taking off or landing here,” he added.
Talking of the unexpected high level rains, he said, “It is estimated that the area receives around 110 mm of rain in one month. But from 1st September to 6th September the rainfall was more than 400 mm. How can we prepare for something like this? We have never seen the rivers at such high levels.”
Assuring that people were warned beforehand, Chief Minister said, “Nobody can say that the warning was not issued. We gave warning to the people almost 8 hours before through police vans there they should leave the area.”
“Unfortunately only few followed the instructions and majority of them dint. And now we are rescuing those only. More than 50 relief tents have come today and they will be established till evening,” he added.
Giving figures of helicopters at work, he said, “We have made arrangements here. People are brought up by helicopters and are being sent to cities at safe places. The problem we are facing is that the only source to reach the runway is through helicopter. Around 800 rounds of helicopters were flown yesterday.”
“People are facing problems in terms of food, we are not denying that. But since today morning we are distributing food material including biscuits, bread, water and whatever we have received are being distributed at the earliest. It is expected that by tonight huge quantities of food material will be received,” he added.
Talking of death figures, he said, “No exact figures regarding death toll can be given. Situation of Srinagar will get clear only when the water level will go down.”
Further reacting to the comments of other parties, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “Neither I have brought rain and nor I can stop it. If the opposition can do anything better about the situation then I am ready to listen to them. Today, we don’t have any time for politics. I wish if they could understand this and move to human grounds.”
