In Srinagar without admin, Army is target

Stranded at houses, hospitals and schools for three days without food, water, sanitation facilities and electricity, angry Srinagar residents targeted the Army in the absence of police and civic officials. On Tuesday morning, at least two Army rescue boats were pelted with stones and another with glass from broken hospital windows.

“When the boats cleared by my men came out of the gates of Badami Baug Cantonment, out boat was pelted with stones,” said Lt Colonel Surender Singh, an artillery officer. “They have been seeing us ferrying people and unaware of the task we are up against, there is a feeling that we are neglecting them. We are following a protocol — elderly women and those who have no food are rescued first. We had to carry a weapon on our next trip.”

Another officer said his boat was greeted with broken glass at GB Pant Hospital from where the Army has rescued over 300 civilians. Also at the hospital, five or six young people jumped on a rescue boat that was trying to give priority to the elderly. At another location, a retired Army officer jumped into the water to attract the attention of a boat. He was taken on board and warned.