J&K floods: Air India declares free travel for trapped tourists

New Delhi: As Kashmir valley remains under flood water, Air India has decided to ferry free of cost tourists trapped in Srinagar while Gujarat and Bihar governments are sending 75,000 food and dry food packets for affected people.

Air India's gesture was announced after a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, here on Tuesday.

A Home Ministry statement said the supply of food and water is being enhanced with the dispatch of 1,25,000 packets of biscuits, 1,00,000 litres of water, 150 tonnes of ready-to- eat (RTE) food from Hyderabad. "35,000 RTE food packets being sent by DRDO, government of Gujarat has organised 50,000 packets of food and government of Bihar 25,000 packets of dry food," it said.

The NCMC reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir arising on account of floods.

Secretary (Planning), Jammu and Kashmir, briefed the NCMC about the ground situation and further support required.

Availability of boats is being augmented further with inflatable boats and fibre glass boats with out-board motors.

Over 250 boats have already been deployed Air asset support is being up-scaled and over 30 aircraft and 31 helicopters have been made available.

Heavy duty submersible pumps are being flown in to take out water once the river level starts coming down.

The statement said three tonnes of milk in tetra-pack are being rushed, in addition to milk powder.

A total of 6,000 solar lanterns are being mobilised in view of the disruption in power supply in the Kashmir Valley.