Limping back to its feet a week after floods devastated Jammu and Kashmir, the Omar Abdullah government finally moved towards taking charge of the relief operations. Union home ministry officials supervising operations in Srinagar said the state government had formed teams to work with various departments of the central government now.
Also, on Sunday, the deluge of migrant workers stranded outside the Srinagar airport too was cleared after 25,000 of them were flown out along with rescued tourists.
The state has set up three sites for receipt and onward distribution of relief material. Now, only dry ration and eatables are being distributed through helicopters by landing at distribution sites and through boats, as air-dropping of supplies has been stopped. Godowns of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) too have been opened for supply of rations. Subrata Saha, general officer commanding of 15 Corps, handling rescue efforts in Kashmir, said the civil administration was now working with the army and locals. “The department of telecommunications and private operators are being provided helicopters and boats to reach their stores.”