Close X
Monday, December 2, 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

    Decide on Delhi assembly's fate, SC tells Centre

    Decide on Delhi assembly's fate, SC tells Centre
    The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the central government to take a decision on the fate of the Delhi assembly which was placed under suspended animation after the AAP...

    Decide on Delhi assembly's fate, SC tells Centre

    44 Kerala nurses from Libya arrive in Kochi

    44 Kerala nurses from Libya arrive in Kochi
    The first batch of 44 Kerala nurses, evacuated from Libya, arrived here Tuesday morning, said a state government official....

    44 Kerala nurses from Libya arrive in Kochi

    Modi government stretches every muscle for Lok Sabha's smooth functioning

    Modi government stretches every muscle for Lok Sabha's smooth functioning
    It is not just the sheer numbers that are giving the BJP smooth sailing in Lok Sabha. The ruling party and government are making that extra effort to...

    Modi government stretches every muscle for Lok Sabha's smooth functioning

    WTO move: Pakistani daily calls India powerful

    WTO move: Pakistani daily calls India powerful
    India is "powerful enough" to block an initiative at the WTO, said a Pakistani daily that, however, noted the move is "something of a U-turn by the neo-liberal" Indian...

    WTO move: Pakistani daily calls India powerful

    Modi's visit a symbolic new start: Nepali daily

    Modi's visit a symbolic new start: Nepali daily
    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Nepal marks "more of a symbolic new start", said a Nepali daily that noted the failure to reach...

    Modi's visit a symbolic new start: Nepali daily

    CIA penetrated every sphere of UPA: Natwar Singh

    CIA penetrated every sphere of UPA: Natwar Singh
    Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh has alleged that the US exerted pressure on then prime minister Manmohan Singh in the choice of his ministers...

    CIA penetrated every sphere of UPA: Natwar Singh