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Jammu and Kashmir floods: How locals displayed spirit in rescue and relief mission

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After seeing people marooned in an unprecedented deluge crying helplessly, Sajad Mohiuddin, a Srinagar-based young lawyer, instead of waiting for the authorities to help, took out all his savings, air-dashed to Delhi to purchase a boat for Rs 2.5 lakhs. Another Rs 26,000 were spent to transport it to Srinagar. Within a few days, Sajjad, who joined rescue efforts with senior journalist Shujat Bukhari, rescued 450 people from Lal Chowk, the heart of sunken Srinagar, with this single boat.

Most of the people rescued from homes, guest houses and hotels were labourers and construction workers from Bihar and West Bengal, and tourists from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, who had no means to pull strings for help.

While commending the role of the Army, the Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who have also helped and rescued several people, Bukhari says the magnitude of the problem is such that it was not possible for them alone to help. Further, in the absence of any civil administration, it is increasingly becoming difficult for the central forces to prioritise areas and reach particular places in need of rescue. "For the last three days, I also observed they (Army and the NDRF) already have at least 10 personnel on their boat. They are able to allow a maximum of three-four others to board in a single round. Instead, we are taking 25 people in one round, though it is too risky," he told dna on phone.

Even after two weeks, thousands of people continue to be marooned. Amazing stories of people displaying spirit to save fellow humans are pouring in from different areas. Deputy General Manager of BSNL Masharib Gul Mufti helped his staff to move out of the flooded office after walking miles in five feet of water, after exhausting all the avenues of calling for help. Young boys from the far off and safe northern Kashmir, Langate and Kulgam carried food on their shoulders and wading through 10 feet of water to reach stranded people.

Sajjad, who hails from Sopore, says that when he received the boat, he felt empowered enough to take the flood heads-on. He and Bukhari managed to reach Lal Chowk after battling strong currents. "We were appalled to find a group of 25 students from Jammu trapped in Yatri Niwas. And the employees of the civil secretariat had been stuck in a nearby hotel for the past seven days without food and water," he said. "No evacuation had taken place from this hugely affected city centre. In the Press Enclave, all newspaper offices were submerged. All 25 students we rescued have reached their homes. There is no end to calls from their fathers, mothers and sisters thanking us." 

On the first day, this single boat rescued 150 people in nine hours. Tourists stuck in Lal Chowk complained that they had been waving at helicopters hovering over them but no one responded. One can imagine the state of affairs when we learn Sajjad's lone boat provided medicine to 70 personnel of the CRPF's 177 BN stuck at Wazir Bagh.

Further, in the absence of state administration, relief material dispatched by the central and various state governments is rotting at Srinagar airport, for want of recipients. In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Army Wives Group has complained the collapse of civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir. "Sir, there is relief material arriving at our old airfield, meant to be handled by the civil administration - water, food, medicines, blankets and tents - but sadly no one is taking charge. There are boats meant for civil administration, but none are being used. The Army cannot touch these as they are not meant for them. Thanks to Governor NN Vohra, who along with his handful of secretaries is working in tandem with our Indian Army and Air Force. More than 6 lakh people are to be still rescued. The rescue mission has to be on a war footing. If delayed, it will be hell in no time," reads the text of the letter signed by Reena Arora Verma, who claims to be moderator of the group.

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