Sacrifice, courage keep hope afloat in flood-hit Kashmir

Even as the army and Indian Air Force continue their operations to rescue those stranded in Srinagar, tales of heroics are emerging, providing some hope to the public.

Rescue the old, needy first, say trapped Russian women  

Showing courage in time of adversity, two Russian women trapped in flood waters in the city refused to be evacuated till those ailing were brought out first. The Indian Army and Indian Air Force on Wednesday reached out to the two Russian women lodged in a hotel here after they got a distress call from them, an army officer said.

When they were approached for evacuation, the duo refused to come out saying there were people who were ill and they should be moved out first, he said. While greater desperation was seen in the areas which are on the outer fringes, people in the interiors of some marooned colonies are displaying a great sense of responsibility and directing the rescue teams to those people who are worse affected.

1,000 army men, families stranded without food, water

Over 1000 army personnel and their families are stranded in various camps in Kashmir without food and water even as army personnel work on a war footing to evacuate civilians from their marooned homes. “Many camps of army located in south Kashmir and Srinagar have been flooded and over 1,000 army personnel and their families are stranded without food and water,” an army officer said.

Army personnel working round-the-clock to evacuate lakhs of people trapped in flood-ravaged areas are yet to reach to them. With water, electricity, supplies and other services hit, army personnel have adopted measures to conserve resources so that major share of supplies are made available for the civil population, he said. There are over 20 small and big army camps located in central and south Kashmir belts, which are affected due to floods.