3 national highways leading to Kashmir Valley opened

SRINAGAR: The life in flood-hit Kashmir region is limping back to normal as vehicular traffic to the Valley has been restored through three national highways facilitating the resumption of supplies at a massive scale.

The national highways -- Mughal Road, Srinagar-Jammu and Kishtwar-Sinthan have been thrown open for traffic, a spokesman said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stressed on providing ration, safe drinking water, blankets, tents, medicine etc to the flood-hit people, besides intensifying the dewatering and sanitation process in the inundated areas, especially in Srinagar city, he said.

The Chief Minister is monitoring the situation and holding daily review meeting with senior officials.

At a meeting today, Omar was told that the flood water in the many waterlogged areas of the city is being drained into natural channels through high volume suction pumps and cuts, which is followed by massive cleaning up drive.

"Scores of animal carcasses have also been disposed and the drive is going on war footing," the spokesman said.

The Chief Minister was told that water supply schemes including 30 million gallons per day (MGD) at Rangil, 19 MGD at Nishat and 6 MGD at Alastang are functioning normally and supplying potable water to the people.

"Efforts are on to restore the Mehjoor Nagar and Padhshahi Bag water supply schemes. Despite having suffered damages, 19 MGD Doodganga and 4 MGD Pokhribal schems are also being made operational shortly," the spokesman added.