BackJ&K: Highway, banks, hospitals reopen after floods
Water has receded to a large extent in Jhelum river and the main flood canal, overflowing for at least three days, is also under check
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Srinagar/Jammu: After 11 days, life is returning to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir but the extent of damage caused by devastating floods is still unfolding.
Infrastructure in the state too is recovering, with reopening of the Jammu-Srinagar highway, railway stations in north Kashmir, and bank branches and hospitals. However, fear of water-borne diseases persists.
Water has receded to a large extent in Jhelum river and the main flood canal, overflowing for at least three days, is also under check. 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.
On Tuesday, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said 456 bank branches out of a total 739 and 377 ATMs out a total 896 were operational as on date in Jammu and Kashmir. RBI assistant general manager Ravinder Kaul said the situation in Jammu and Ladakh was practically normal. An urgent meeting of the controllers of banks, having substantial presence in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, was convened by the RBI at Jammu on Tuesday to discuss and assess the impact of the devastating floods in the state, particularly in the valley.
The discussions also focused on how quickly the situation could be improved so that the affected people get access to basic banking facilities and services at the earliest. In the Kashmir division, out of 739 branches of these banks, 456 were functional and 377 ATMs out of a total of 896, were operational as on date, Kaul added.
Transportation got a boost on Tuesday with reopening of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The stretch will be one way for first two days to boost the relief efforts in Jammu and Kashmir floods.
“Only relief and essential commodities carrying vehicles shall be allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar on first two days i.e. from 16 September 2014 to 17 September 2014", an official spokesman said in Srinagar. The national highway was damaged and blocked at Gangroo and Higni (Ramsoo) due to unprecedented flood/landslides.
Only passenger vehicles will ply from Srinagar to Jammu, for one day i.e. on 19 September 2014, he said, adding that similarly, for next two days i.e. from 19-20 September 2014, the traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar.
“No extra heavy vehicles i.e multi-axle vehicles, trailers and trucks carrying non-essential commodities/material shall ply on the national highway till the situation gets normal and better," he said. However, Light Motor vehicles (LMVs) shall be allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar through Kishtwar-Sinthantop road without any restriction during this period.
On Tuesday, Indian Railways restored 57km of tracks and made operational eight railway stations from Baramulla to Nowgam in north Kashmir, and efforts were on to make the remaining stations in south Kashmir functional.
“Police, in coordination with the railways, has been undertaking strenuous efforts to restore train service in the Valley," said director general of police K. Rajendra Kumar, adding the remaining railway stations in south Kashmir will start functioning within next few days.
Kumar assured railway authorities that police will provide all the required assistance for restoration of rail service in the flood-hit valley. He said in order to coordinate in rescue and relief work with the civil administration, police tele-communication network is being strengthened, and satellite phones, wireless sets are provided to the designated officers assigned with the rescue and relief operations.
Police tele-communication control room has been set up at police headquarters to facilitate communication between different agencies involved in rescue operations and restoration works.
Meanwhile three hospitals, which were affected by floods, became operational on Tuesday, giving a much-needed boost to prevention of water-borne diseases.
“The routine health care services in the Bone and Joints Hospital-Srinagar and Maternity Hospital-Sanatnagar have been resumed, while the SKIMS-Bemina will also be made partially functional in a day or two," said state health minister Taj Mohiuddin, adding that 40 lakh chlorine tablets have been made available in Srinagar, which would greatly help in providing safe drinking water to the people.
The minister asked the medical fraternity to work with full dedication and contribute their best at this time of crisis arisen due to the devastating calamity.
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