Close X
Sunday, December 1, 2024
ADVT 
India

Srinagar flooded, internet connectivity snaps

Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Sep, 2014 08:46 AM
    Flood waters Monday inundated most of Srinagar's residential and commercial areas as people scrambled to save whatever they could from the muddy, swirling waters.
     
    Mobile coverage was patchy across the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir while there was no internet connectivity.
     
    An estimated 70 percent of Srinagar was inundated for a second day Monday.
     
    Water entered shops in the main business hub of Lal Chowk and Residency. Desperate shopkeepers tried to retrieve their goods from the flooded shops.
     
    The death toll in the worst floods in Jammu and Kashmir in over 50 years is said to have crossed 150. However, information is patchy from remote areas now made inaccessible by the flood waters.
     
    The radio and television stations were shut Sunday after flood waters entered the installations.
     
    The authorities appeared ill equipped to battle the terrible calamity but did all they could in the circumstances.
     
    Mobiles went on the blink as private telecom service providers said their towers were badly damaged.
     
    Waters entered the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) headquarters on Maulana Azad Road, forcing its closure.
     
    There was no internet connectivity in the Kashmir Valley.
     
    The only communication tool still up and running is the police wireless system.
     
    Except for inter-district connectivity between Srinagar and north Kashmir's Ganderbal district, all other districts of the valley including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Badgam, Baramulla and Bandipora were cut off.
     
    The air force Monday airlifted 70 boats as seven teams of the National Disaster Response Force struggled to save the flood victims. 
     
    Soldiers did a herculean task, rescuing the marooned. The navy deployed marine commandos.
     
    The Srinagar-Jammu highway as well as the Srinagar-Leh highway remained closed for the fourth day Monday.
     
    The floods have hit petrol availability in Srinagar. All petrol pumps were practically running dry, prompting pump operators to ration the fuel to just one litre for each vehicle.
     
    All educational institutes have been shut. All Haj flights to Saudi Arabia have been cancelled till Sep 12.
     
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reviewed the flood situation Sunday, has called it a national disaster.
     
    The silver lining is that there was sunshine in both the valley and Jammu region, with the weather office saying there would be fair weather for the next four days.
     
    The water level in all mountain streams and seasonal drains has gone down.
    But the Jhelum river, which caused maximum devastation, is still flowing above the danger mark.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Political Circus: Will Modi's own camp accept his I-Day advice?

    Political Circus: Will Modi's own camp accept his I-Day advice?
    Perhaps the most important part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech from the ramparts of New Delhi's Red Fort was his call...

    Political Circus: Will Modi's own camp accept his I-Day advice?

    Man hurls shoe at Badal; Akali Dal blames AAP

    Man hurls shoe at Badal; Akali Dal blames AAP
    A shoe hurled at Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal by an unemployed youth in a village near here Friday during an Independence Day function...

    Man hurls shoe at Badal; Akali Dal blames AAP

    Modi delivers on promised financial inclusion mission

    Modi delivers on promised financial inclusion mission
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced a financial inclusion mission to mark India's 68th Independence Day and extend banking, credit, insurance...

    Modi delivers on promised financial inclusion mission

    Punjab makes dope test mandatory for government jobs

    Punjab makes dope test mandatory for government jobs
    To curb incidence of people addicted to drugs joining state government service, the Punjab government Thursday announced that dope testing will be mandatory...

    Punjab makes dope test mandatory for government jobs

    Pakistan fires at Indian positions on LoC

    Pakistan fires at Indian positions on LoC
    The Pakistan Army fired without any provocation at Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said Thursday....

    Pakistan fires at Indian positions on LoC

    Modi not to address US Congress

    Modi not to address US Congress
    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be addressing the US Congress when he comes calling September end for a summit with President Barack Obama....

    Modi not to address US Congress