Photo of flood hit Jammu. (Agence France-Presse)
Army has deployed 85 columns of troops in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir for undertaking search, rescue and relief operations and have rescued 2500 people so far.
Officials said that more columns of troops in various units and formations have been kept ready for operations to reach out to the affected people in Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu region.
"Army has deployed and pressed into service 85 columns of troops for undertaking a major search, rescue and relief operations in flood hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir", Public Relation Officer (PRO), Defence, Northern Command, Col S D Goswami told PTI today.
Of 85 columns, the highest number of 60 columns have been deployed in Kashmir valley and 25 such columns in affected areas of Jammu region, he said.
The columns, headed by Junior Commissioner Officers (JCOs) has fanned in most of the affected areas of Kashmir valley, particularly in worst flood Central Kashmir's Srinagar summer capital and South Kashmir.
They are armed with all types of equipments and vehicles to help people in distress in Kashmir valley, which is facing a worst types of floods after many decades. During past few days, Army troops have rescued 2500 people in Kashmir region and parts of Jammu division, particularly Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi belts, which faced the worst situation due to flash-floods, Col Goswami said.
Meanwhile, five bodies were today found while a search was on for 45 other missing passengers after a bus carrying them was washed away in flood waters in Rajouri district yesterday. Twenty-five more people have been killed in flash-floods and landslides in the state.
Of these, 18 died in Jammu region and 7 in Kashmir valley. Authorities have sounded high "flood" alert as most of the rivers in the state area are flowing high above the danger mark due to incessant rains since the night of September 2.