: Majority of the Malayalis stranded in Srinagar following floods have been rescued and many of them have returned home.
State authorities have so far rescued 291 out of the 450-odd Malayalis stranded in the flood-hit areas and another 120 are expected to leave Kashmir via Leh on Sunday morning. The remaining 20 persons would be rescued from the flood-affected areas at the earliest, said Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
Mr. Chennithala, who returned to Kerala after camping in Delhi overseeing the rescue effort, said the State government’s help desk at the Srinagar airport would remain operational till the entire complement of tourists from the State were evacuated.
The government, he said, had made arrangements to provide food and medical care to the 120 persons who were on their way to Delhi through Leh. State Upa Lok Ayukta K.P. Balachandran and the 17 others forming part of a group were expected to reach Delhi late on Saturday, the Home Minister added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday wrote to his Jammu and Kashmir counterpart Omar Abdulla declaring solidarity with the suffering people of the State and placing on record Kerala’s government’s appreciation for the support given to it by the J&K government and the defence services personnel for evacuating Malayalis stranded in the flood-affected areas.
Mr. Chandy informed Mr. Abdulla that more than 500 tourists from Kerala were stranded in Srinagar and that half of them could be brought back with the active help of the J&K administration and the defence personnel.
“The rest of the people are still stranded and are calling me frantically for immediate help for evacuation. I am confident that you will do everything possible to bring them to the Srinagar airport,” hesaid.
Mr. Chandy also informed Mr. Abdulla that the State government has decided to donate Rs. 2 crore to Jammu and Kashmir for flood relief work.
