Homeless, hungry and thirsty: Woes continue for Kashmir's locals

Hundreds of people trapped in floods-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir with some left marooned on rooftops and others clinging to trees are in dire need of water and food.

“We want food and water urgently. Please save us,” pleaded Meena Ahmed, who along with her family members is stranded in Qayoom Colony in Rawalpora for the past five days.

Over 4000 people, who have been rescued from Shiv Pora, Indra Nagar, Batwara and Jawahir Nagar areas and put up at Zeisht Devi area, have been facing starvation. Over 70 medical students are trapped in a hostel in Batmaloo area and sought help of the Indian Air Force. Nearly 60 people trapped at Hari Prabat hill in the city are also making frantic calls for food and water.

“We want water and food. We will die here. Please ask IAF choppers to drop some food pockets here,” one of trapped persons S Lala said.

Tasleema Shafi, along with three of her family members, is desperately seeking help from Army and IAF for rescuing them from near Madina Masjid in Hazratbal area, where nearly three floors of her house are submerged.

While the Army, Air Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel are out to aid those stranded, residents lament that no one from the state administration or local bodies could be seen in their hour of grief. “We appreciate the work done by NDRF and other forces but it is evident they are clueless in these areas as they are new to the state,” an angry resident said.

“This problem could be solved by deploying a state police jawan or any other official on the boat who is aware about the area and could direct the help to the neediest areas. But it (state administration) is nowhere,” he claimed.

His view was echoed by a resident of the Dal lake area who said he put together an improvised boat to escape the flood waters and reach to a safer area. “I do not know where my state government and local administration are? No one is reaching for help in many areas... I saw that myself. My friends who are safe now also told me this. I rowed my own boat to escape,” the young man said.

In many places where water levels showed some signs of receding, people could be seen rowing boats and rescuing women, children and the old. An old woman present in the Kashmir University campus expressed her anger that the government was only making “claims” that everyone will be helped but nothing was happening on the ground.

“I have been taken out after three days. But still there are people who are stuck and no help is reaching them. Where is my government,” she asked.

Those people who have been rescued to safer locations are also complaining of not getting enough basic food materials like biscuits, milk, water and packed eatables. Many expressed their angst over not getting enough warm clothes and blankets as those perched on the top of their homes have to brave the cold during evening and late night hours.

Tourists who have been evacuated to dry places like Kashmir University grounds said there is no way to reach the airport as there are no boats or vehicles available. “I was told that Air India has kept planes ready to take people out of the state but how do I reach the airport? There are no boats or vehicles available,” Mumbai resident Mohammed Zubair said.