This Article is From Sep 07, 2014

J&K floods: People Stranded in Srinagar's Children's Hospital Evacuated

J&K floods: People Stranded in Srinagar's Children's Hospital Evacuated

The girls' hostel of the Government Medical College in Srinagar.

Srinagar: Three major hospitals in Srinagar, including the Government Children's Hospital in the heart of the Jammu and Kashmir capital, have been hit by the state's worst flooding in 60 years. (Crisis in Jammu & Kashmir: Chunks of State Under Water, Srinagar Sends SOS)

After reports came in that two floors of the children's hospital was flooded, all people stranded there were evacuated later in the evening. Earlier in the day, the patients had been moved to the top floor of the three-storey hospital. Around 300 people - patients, doctors, nurses and attendants - were reportedly crammed on the third floor. (Also read: In and Around Srinagar, Homes and Hospitals Submerged)

The Jhelum river, swollen by heavy rain, has flooded large parts of Srinagar and messages for help are pouring in on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook as people stranded on the rooftops of their homes and other buildings await rescue. "Locals please help 200 female resident doctors of Lal Ded Hospital, (hostel) Srinagar," said one such call for help on Twitter. (In Srinagar, Phone Networks Down, Making Rescues Tougher)

The SMHS hospital in the heart of Srinagar city is also reportedly flooded. Details are awaited from there. Phone lines are down in many parts of the city. 

Hundreds of troops, police and other emergency personnel, backed by helicopters and boats, have been deployed across the state to reach those stranded, with 11,000 people rescued so far, officials said. Soldiers were battling on Sunday to rescue many more people trapped in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said is a national calamity. (Read: SOSs From Stranded People in Kashmir)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to people not to panic. "I know the situation is bad but they should stay above the water level," he said, adding that 110 people have died in the state so far.


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