A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to flood affected Jammu and Kashmir, the army received orders to airlift as many people as possible out of Srinagar, following which a massive operation has been launched to evacuate and subsequently fly people to locations such as Delhi, Pathankot, and Chandigarh. The fixed wing aircraft of the Indian Air Force such as AN-21, IL-76, C-130, C-70 besides the MI-17, Cheetah and ALH helicopters have been doing non-stop sorties bringing in tons of ration from Delhi and then carrying people outside of the valley. Helpline numbers: New Delhi J&K House - 011- 24611210, 24611108; Srinagar- 0194-2452138; Jammu - 0191-2560401; Home Ministry - 011-23093054, 23092763; NDRF - 09711077372 The Army has established three relief camps at places such as old Srinagar airfield, Avantipura in south Kashmir, and Badamibagh cantonment which is the biggest camp where more than 2000 people have been lodged. By 6 am on Monday, almost 17000 people had been evacuated from Kashmir valley. This number is expected to be reach to 30,000 by the end of the day. Clearances were received in the morning to put civilians on board service aircraft and as an standard operating procedure, boats are being used to vacate people to areas from where they can be airlifted by the choppers and subsequently to safer zones or rescue camps. Almost 30 tonnes of water has been asked to be delivered across the valley which will be brought by the IL-76. In Badamibagh cantonment alone, ration sufficient for only about 17 days is available and the army personnel themselves have restricted their meals to just khichdi. Two designated army bakeries are producing bread overnight to ensure uninterrupted supply even as additional rations including medicine, tents, beds, blankets are being flown in. While civilians trapped on rooftops is a common sight in Srinagar, politicians and VIPs too have not been spared from the havoc. Take for instance, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, who met Corps commander Lt Gen Subrata Saha in the morning. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been provided with army's own mobile communication system to improve coordination as civilian networks have collapsed. Among those who are trapped in the waters are IGPs, divisional commissioner who the army now plans to winch out. Three of 28 Pakistani women, who had come to Srinagar for a SAARC sporting event, were rescued by the Army from Renaissance Hotel near Broadway Cinema. Meher Hasan Rafi, 35, Rubina Hasan, 55 and one Anamika, 26, waved out to the army boat when it approached nearby. They were brought to the Badamibagh cantonment by 11 am in the morning, Lt Col Narayan Sharma, who has been manning the Badamibag relief camp, said. They are being been put on an army helicopter and flown to Pakistan.
