Sunday, December 21, 2025
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

    Watch: Narendra Modi turns emotional breaks down in Central Hall of Parliament

    Watch: Narendra Modi turns emotional breaks down in Central Hall of Parliament
    An emotional Narendra Modi broke down while delivering his first speech after being formally appointed the leader of the BJP Parliamentary group committee

    Watch: Narendra Modi turns emotional breaks down in Central Hall of Parliament

    Manmohan Singh takes the entire blame, Sonia and Rahul's offers to quit rejected

    Manmohan Singh takes the entire blame, Sonia and Rahul's offers to quit rejected
    Manmohan Singh also said, "I take responsibility for the shortcomings of my government. We were not able to communicate satisfactorily with the people on the issues of price rise and corruption, and the situations that arose because of it." 

    Manmohan Singh takes the entire blame, Sonia and Rahul's offers to quit rejected

    Raising workers' morale among priorities for Congress

    Raising workers' morale among priorities for Congress
    Raising the morale of party workers, ideological consolidation, policy revamp and a sustained grassroots campaign are among the measures being suggested by Congress leaders to revive the party's fortunes after its crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

    Raising workers' morale among priorities for Congress

    Ceasefire Violation - Soldier killed, two injured in firing by Pakistani troops

    Ceasefire Violation - Soldier killed, two injured in firing by Pakistani troops
    A soldier was killed and two were injured in a guerrilla attack near the international border in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, an official said Monday.

    Ceasefire Violation - Soldier killed, two injured in firing by Pakistani troops

    Modi steps up discussions over government formation

    Modi steps up discussions over government formation
    BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi Sunday met senior party leader L.K. Advani as well as other leaders including from alliance partners as part of consultations aimed at formation of the new NDA government.

    Modi steps up discussions over government formation

    Be Careful, Modi's Real Test Starts Now

    Be Careful, Modi's Real Test Starts Now
    Now it is time for Narendra Modi to emerge as a global leader to take India on the path of becoming a super power in every sense of the term. His testing time starts now.

    Be Careful, Modi's Real Test Starts Now