An aerial view of inundated areas of Srinagar city. (Press Trust of India Photo)
With respite from rain and flood waters receding, the Army has scaled up its air-lift rescue operations in Jammu and Kashmir today. But there is a complete breakdown of the telecommunication network and could take two more days to fix. Over 150 people are reported dead in the state's worst floods in 60 years.
Here are the latest developments in this story:
More than 22,000 people, including around 2,000 from Srinagar have been rescued and brought to safety. The Army has deployed around 20,000 soldiers to rescue stranded people and has 65 medical teams and 15 engineering task forces spread out in the flood-ravaged valley. Thousands are still stranded. (J&K Floods: Here's How You Can Help)
The Army said the J&K national highway, which links the valley to the rest of the country will take about four to five days to be restored. The 300-km-long national highway has been closed to vehicular traffic for five days because of landslides and floods. (Kashmir Floods: Post Your Message Here)
A shortage of boats has hampered rescue work. Some of the famous shikara wooden boats, which ferry tourists across the Dal Lake in Srinagar, have also been pressed into service to rescue people from their homes.
The Meteorological department has said there will be no heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir over the next three days. In Srinagar, the waters of the Jhelum are now receding, faster from some areas, slower in the others. But there are reports that water in the Dal lake is rising. It's a sunny day in Jammu. (Kashmir Floods: SOS From Stranded People)
Officials warn that the real scale of the disaster is hard to piece together because so many villages are impossible to reach for now; also, mobile networks have been down since Sunday. Sources said on Monday evening that it could take about 72 hours to restore phone lines. (With Phone Lines Still Down in Kashmir, Extent of Flood Damage Unknown)
The government is sending VSAT stations - small satellite stations that allow users access to Internet - for the public, said sources. 62,000 litres of bottled water is also being sent to combat the shortage of drinking water.
The Army and Air Force are using satellite phones to coordinate a massive rescue operation. Srinagar's main hospital, army barracks and high court are among the buildings badly hit. In many of the city's neighbourhoods, the water was about 4 metres (12 feet) deep, submerging entire houses.
The Air Force has deployed 45 helicopters and aircraft to help out. Naval commandos have been deployed to bring people to safety. Thousands of troops, police and other emergency personnel, backed by helicopters and boats, have fanned out across the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the state to deliver blankets, tents and other aid, officials said.
The prime ministers of India and Pakistan have offered to help each other in efforts to alleviate flood havoc in Kashmir. Acknowledging PM Modi's letter offering assistance for flood relief, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday, "Such solidarity in the face of crisis is indeed valuable".
Nearly 200 people have been killed in floods and rain-related incidents in Pakistan with four days of incessant showers leaving a trail of death and destruction.
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