Jammu and Kashmir floods: NDRF launches advanced medical facilities to expedite rescue efforts

In order to expedite relief operations in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has introduced advanced medical services.

An ambulance equipped with several advanced emergency medical facilities and vehicles were launched on Saturday. These facilities will be used in inaccessible areas where patients are stuck and face difficulties in reaching out for health care.

"What we have done we have bought these all terrain vehicles. The purpose is to test a technology where these vehicles can negotiate certain areas where conventional vehicles are not able to go, say for example 2.5 feet of water, a gradient of 20-30 feet, slush where we have lot debris stones. So these can be easily negotiated by these vehicles," said Inspector General (operations), NDRF, Sandeep Rathode.

He added that the NDRF teams are conducting several measures along with the state administration to help the flood victims.

More than 75,000 people were still in partly submerged homes in Srinagar, where roads have been transformed into stagnant canals strewn with wreckage, trash and dead animals.

Meanwhile, a medical camp was set up in Srinagar where hundreds of flood victims received various medical services. Men, women, children and the elderly stood in queues for check-ups and treatment besides receiving emergency medicines.

"Mostly the victims are facing respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea, dysentery which take place due to consuming unsafe water. Joint pain, allergy due to walking in contaminated water are also some of the symptoms," said doctor Mohammad Kasim.

The floods have claimed lives of hundreds of people while tens of thousands have been left homeless.

Authorities say the cost of damage in Jammu and Kashmir may run into billions of dollars.

Due to floodwater logging in various parts of the state, several water-borne diseases have started to crop up and the Valley is on the threshold of an epidemic.

"We stayed for around 4-5 days and most of the people here are suffering from skin infections. You can see allergy has come all over my body. The medical camp set up here is good and we are getting all medical services," said patient, Imitiaz Ahmed.

Hospitals were flooded when the Jhelum River burst its banks and staff scattered around the city were unable to get to work. Doctors were running out of medicines and surgical equipment as they struggled to provide emergency services in makeshift medical centres.

There were signs the relief operation was gaining traction as authorities brought in heavy-duty pumps to evacuate water from low-lying residential areas, including two from ONGC.

The Indian Army has deployed about 30,000 troops for rescue and relief operations and soldiers distributed 2,24,000 litres of water and food to survivors.