NCMC meets to review Jammu and Kashmir flood situation

NEW DELHI: The National Crisis Management Committee ( NCMC), headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth, tonight directed central agencies to provide all possible help to Jammu and Kashmir government in rescue and relief of flood- affected people in the state.

The directive was given after an emergency meeting the NCMC held here to take stock of rescue and relief operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

To coordinate efforts, round-the-clock control room is operational in the Home Ministry.

The Centre will provide all possible help to the state government, an official spokesperson said.

The NCMC meeting was convened following a directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will visit the state and make an aerial survey of flood affected areas.

Floods in Jammu and Kashmir have so far claimed 116 lives and the total number of villages affected is 2,325 out of which nearly 350 villages have been submerged.

Rescue and relief operations are in full swing. Services of Army, Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been requisitioned.

22 IAF helicopters and 4 aircraft have been deployed for evacuating the marooned population and for providing necessary relief support, the spokesperson said.

130 army columns (about 13,000) and 8 teams of NDRF with necessary equipment such as boats, satellite phones, life jackets etc. are in position. These teams have so far rescued nearly 11,000 people.

In addition, services of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have also been requisitioned wherever necessary.