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

    Assam violence: Toll touches 37, 10 still missing

    Assam violence: Toll touches 37, 10 still missing
    The toll in the series of attacks by the anti-talk faction of Bodo militants has gone up to 37 with the recovery of six more bodies Wednesday. Ten people, however, remained missing.

    Assam violence: Toll touches 37, 10 still missing

    Jignesh Shah, another arrested in NSEL scam

    Jignesh Shah, another arrested in NSEL scam
    Financial Technolgies (India) Ltd chairman Jignesh Shah was Wednesday arrested in connection with the Rs.5,574.34 crore NSEL payments crisis of last year, a police official said.

    Jignesh Shah, another arrested in NSEL scam

    Thousands hit as snag curbs Metro services at peak hour

    Thousands hit as snag curbs Metro services at peak hour
    Thousands of commuters were left stranded Wednesday evening as a technical snag hit Delhi Metro's Blue Line during the evening rush hour, causing delay and overcrowding at many stations for about an hour, before the fault was rectified, officials said.

    Thousands hit as snag curbs Metro services at peak hour

    SC unblocks nursery admissions in Delhi

    SC unblocks nursery admissions in Delhi
    The Supreme Court Wednesday revoked suspension of nursery admissions, and said the children of parents who have moved the court for admission under inter-state quota, would be admitted to the schools were they have applied.

    SC unblocks nursery admissions in Delhi

    India, a pioneer in space programmes: PM's envoy

    India, a pioneer in space programmes: PM's envoy
    India had established the Space Commission and the Indian Space Research Organisation "very early", and the country was a "pioneer in space programmes in Asia" much ahead of China, the prime minister's special envoy for disarmament and non-proliferation, Rakesh Sood, said here Wednesday.

    India, a pioneer in space programmes: PM's envoy

    Modi's Varanasi rally spiked, BJP on warpath

    Modi's Varanasi rally spiked, BJP on warpath
    The BJP Wednesday declared war on the Election Commission after it denied permission to its prime ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi to hold rallies and another event Thursday in Varanasi where he is contesting his second Lok Sabha seat.

    Modi's Varanasi rally spiked, BJP on warpath