Indian Navy joins flood rescue mission in Jammu and Kashmir

Navy commandos on Monday joined the massive rescue operations being carried out by the Army, Air Force and NDRF in flooded parts of Kashmir Valley, rescuing around 200 stranded people on the Srinagar-Sopore Highway.

Deployed for the first time to carry out rescue efforts in the flood-hit state, Naval marine commandos have rescued people caught in flood waters at Haigaon on the Srinagar Sopore Highway, an Army official said. "Rescue efforts are now continuing near Pantha Chowk, Srinagar," he said.

Naval diving teams are also on standby at New Delhi, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for the rescue efforts. A medical team is standby at Delhi for immediate deployment. The Army and IAF have, meanwhile, extended rescue and relief operation to South Kashmir

Helicopters have airlifted four boats and a medical team to Anantnag district in South Kashmir, a Defence Spokesman said.

The weather being clear, a number of helicopters have been pressed into action to transport rescue and relief material to isolated areas of South Kashmir, he said.

Relief camps have also been set up at Avantipur and Anantnag to help the flood-hit people, the spokesman said.

Heavy floods have wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving nearly 150 people dead.