Road, telecom network to be restored in Jammu and Kashmir in 3-5 days: Centre

NEW DELHI: Restoration of road and tele- communication network in the Kashmir Valley, ravaged by floods, will take three to five days.

The Centre has directed free flow of transport via Manali and Leh to Srinagar, the only available surface network, a top central government official said here today.

The Home Ministry is also airlifting thousands of bottles of drinking water and blankets to Jammu and Kashmir to be distributed among the flood-affected people as there is shortage of potable water and woollens.

"As nights are getting colder in Kashmir valley, we are urgently arranging blankets and airlifting them to Srinagar. There is crisis of drinking water too. So, we are sending thousands of bottled water beginning today for next four-five days," the official said.

The three highways connecting Kashmir with Jammu have been damaged badly and the Border Roads Organisation has assessed the damage and conveyed that it will take at least five to seven days for their restoration, the official said.

Works are going on war-footing for restoration of BSNL telecommunication network which is expected to be normal in next three days.

Facing problems of connecting even top state government officials, the Centre has dispatched 15 high frequency wireless sets to Srinagar today and is expecting that the wireless service will be restored by tonight.