Ghanta Ghar, in the heart of Srinagar, surrounded by flood water (Press Trust of India photo)
The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Secretariat in Srinagar reopened today after being shut for 11 days due to the devastating floods that ravaged the state. Less than 10 per cent of the employees reported to work at the scheduled opening time at 9:30 am, the official
in-charge of security at the Secretariat said.
While floodwater has begun receding in Srinagar, many areas, including around the Civil Secretariat, are still water-logged.
(Also Read: As Flood Water Recedes in Srinagar, More Bodies Found) The ground floor of the secretariat is still not functional.
The deluge that killed over 200 people had completely paralysed the state administration with the police control room, office of the fire and emergency service and the J&K High Court in the city being flooded. While the High Court is still closed, the other two have begun functioning partially.
At a cabinet meeting on Monday, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, it was decided that "no holidays shall be observed on Saturdays and Sundays in the state government offices in the Kashmir Valley, except educational institutions, till the closure of offices on account of 'Darbar Move'."
The 'Darbar Move' is a century-old practice under which the state government spends six months each in the two capitals - the summer capital Srinagar and the winter capital Jammu.
Lal Chowk, the business centre of Srinagar, is still under several feet of water, making it difficult for authorities and local voluntary organisations to reach out with relief material in the affected areas.
Hundreds are still missing in the floods, the worst in the state in over a decade.
Over 2,30,000 people have been rescued in the state so far, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said on Tuesday, adding that an "outstanding effort" was put in by the personnel of the Indian Air Force, and they would continue to do so till they were needed.