J&K floods: Over 90,000 people rescued but lakhs stranded

The death toll is well above 200 in the Jammu and Kashmir floods even as more than 90,000 people have now been rescued by the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force. However, lakhs still remain stranded.There has been some improvement in communication lines, a day after road links to Leh were restored. The Indian Air Force has also brought in the Mi 26, the world's biggest helicopter, into flood relief operations.Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag will be visiting Srinagar on Wednesday to review the flood situation.79 transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corp have been pressed into service. Army has deployed 329 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations, in which 244 columns deployed in Srinagar region and 85 columns in Jammu region. 135 Army bauts and 148 NDRF's inflatable boats are actively involved in the rescue operation.To restore the road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5700 personnel, have been pressed into service. As of now, they have restored the road connectivity between Batote - Kishtwar and Kishtwar - Sinthan Pass. Work between Sinthan Pass and Anantnag is in progress and Jammu to KM 172 is open for light vehicular traffic. Jammu - Poonch road has been cleared for traffic.The local administration, though, is facing criticism for insufficient relief works. But Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has rubbished rumours of negligence on the part of the state administration in dealing with the rescue operations as well as the provision of basic supplies to people living in relief camps.The J&K CM also denied allegations that rescue operations in the state was stepped up only after a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess the situation, while warning of the spread of a disease as the water level goes down."To say that we responded once Modi arrived will be wrong. The situation in the state worsened after Modi arrived," Abdullah said.Abdullah emphasized that, "Our entire effort has been focused on rescuing people and to rehabilitate them."Helpline numbers:

Flood Control Room No -New Delhi J&K House (011)-24611210 and 24611108Srinagar-0194-2452138Jammu-0191-2560401Home Ministry Helpline: 011-23093054, 23092763, 23093564, 23092923, 23092885, 23093566, 23093563