SRINAGAR: Angry residents in some parts of Srinagar who are facing the worst floods in living memory are dumping food parcels dropped by military helicopter in gutters.
Many allege that they are receiving no support from the local government and armed forces have selectively evacuated tourists and people according to a pre-set priority list, leaving locals to be rescued later by volunteers.
People are still trapped in various localities in the winter capital Srinagar, with no electricity, water or mobile network. People are surprised at the total absence of local administration and police and virtually no govarnance. People are also questioning about no support from international organisations and at the extremly slow pace of rescue and relief operation.
“On Wednesday afternoon, a senior National Conference leader air-dropped a few packets of biscuits and bananas on Abdullah Bridge at Rajbagh. However, angry locals threw them into the river as a mark of protest. We do not need biscuits, said Nazir Ahmad, whose family is trapped in the area. We need to save lives. On television, they are talking about the Army and the NDRF, but where are they? Just give us some boats and we will do it ourselves.
The army for its part is trying to scale up operations so as to reach stranded people faster. According to a report in the ToI:
“Army chief General Dalbir Singh visited Srinagar and reiterated his force’s commitment to continue relief operations till the last person is rescued. The Army has now deployed over 30,000 soldiers in Operation Megh Rahat, with 239 columns, 80 medical teams and 15 engineer task forces, apart from establishing four field hospitals in Awantipur, Pattan, Anantnag and an old airport to support operations of the main military hospital in Srinagar.”
Meanwhile citizens themselves are trying to fill in the gaps. The Indian Express notes,
Civilians have been travelling across the city using wooden boats for the rescue operation. In the past three days, thousands of civilians and tourists have been rescued by such people from different parts of the city especially the worst affected Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Lal Chowk, Maisuma and Khayam areas. We know that it is not safe without safety gear, but what else can we do? said Aabid Firdous, a rescue worker. If we wait for the government, we will only find the bodies, maybe not even that, he added.
And this does not spell good news either for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah or even the Centre, ahead of critical state assembly polls — which may explain the scramble to beef up the rescue ops.
The Chief Minister has tried to put a brave face on the situation saying, “People are alive to shout slogans, I have no problems.” However come poll time, when the same people turn up at the polling booth, he may be singing a different tune entirely.
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