A pregnant woman who was rescued from rising waters by the troops delivered a boy on Wednesday in an Army hospital in flood-hit Srinagar where more than 76,500 people have been rescued so far.
As flood waters began receding from parts of Srinagar, the Army stepped up its efforts by deploying 329 columns of its personnel (approximately 30,000 troops) out of which 244 columns are for the Srinagar region while 85 columns are working in the Jammu region. The National Disaster Response Force, too, has intensified its operations.
Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who flew to Srinagar to oversee the relief and rescue operation, promised to salvage every stranded person from the flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will rescue every stranded person in J&K. Rescue operation is being carried through day and night. The Army is trying to restore road communication. Food, water, medicines and blankets are being provided to the people and they have also been given satellite phones for use,” Suhag told journalists in Srinagar.
The Army chief’s second visit to Srinagar within three days coincided with the birth of the baby, whose mother Arshida was rescued by the soldiers from Tampore on Tuesday. Ferrying her in a boat and helicopter, the troops brought her to Badami Bag cantonment hospital where she delivered on Wednesday morning. The mother and baby were safe.
The Navy chipped in with the deployment of a second team of marine commandos with diving gear and satellite phones for the search and rescue operations. Eighty transport aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps are flying continuously.