After watching people marooned in an unprecedented deluge crying helplessly, a Srinagar-based young lawyer Sajad Mohiuddin used his savings to purchase a boat for Rs 2.5 lakh from Delhi. Another Rs 26,000 were spent to transport it to Srinagar airport. Within past three days, Sajjad, who has joined rescue efforts with a senior journalist Shujat Bukhari has rescued 450 people from Lal Chowk, the sunk city centre, with this single boat. "Most of people rescued from residential houses, guest houses and hotels were labourers, construction workers from Bihar, West Bengal and tourists from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, who had no means to pull strings for help.
While commending role of the Army, the Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), who have also helped and rescued many people, Bukhari said, "The floods are very bad and it was not possible for them alone to help. Further in 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 last three days, I have also observed they (Army and the NDRF) already have at least 10 personnel on their boat. With so many people on boat, the can only rescue five people on one boat. But, we are rescuing 25 people in one round, though it is too risky, but its worth taking this chance.
Even after one week, 1.2 lakh people still continue to be marooned in Srinagar city. There is still no statistics available from South Kashmir, which was worst hit in the floods. Amazing stories of displaying spirit to save humanity 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 water, after exhausting all the avenues of calling for help. Young boys from far off from safe North Kashmir, Langate and Kulgam are seen carrying food on their shoulders wading through water to reach to stranded people in SP College lane where water was touching 10 ft.
Sajjad hails from Sopore. He and Bukhari managed to reach Lal Chowk after negotiating with strong water currents. "We were appalled to see a group of 25 students from Jammu trapped in Yatri Niwas and employees of civil secretariat stuck in a nearby Lala Rukh Hotel for past seven days without food and water," said Sajjad.
Further, in absence of state administration, relief material dispatched by the central and various state governments is rotting at the technical area of Srinagar airport, for want of a recipient. In an open letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Army Wives Group has complained collapse of civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir. "Sir, there are of 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, as they are not meant for them. Thanks to the Governor N.N. 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 letter signed by Reena Arora Verma, who claims moderator of the group.
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