Most News Headlines on Kashmir floods continue to fall short of capturing the

intensity of this calamity. I have put together some points which our friends in
media and humanitarian agencies could use in their communications to capture the
enormity of the crisis:
- Close to 5 million people are affected by the floods 4.5 million in Kashmir valley
and half a million in the Jammu region.
- This is the worst flood Kashmir has witnessed in over a century
- Some 3 million people and their homes are submerged mainly in the districts of
Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam, Bandipora and Budgam
- The submerged and affected people include Indian and foreign visitors and Indian
construction workers whose number is estimated at half a million.
- Kashmirs only road linkage with the outside world - the Srinagar-Jammu highway
- remains closed since seven days and is expected to open in another 4-5 days.
Closure of this vital surface communication link has resulted in acute shortage of
essential commodities in Kashmir. All supplies to Kashmir at present could only
reach Srinagar by air.
- Although Srinagar Airport (the regions only civilian airport) is open, access to
Srinagar city from the airport and the larger Kashmir region is still not possible.
- Some areas close to Srinagar airport, mainly in the highlands of Budgam district,
remain accessible.
- Mobile network, landline phones, Internet, banking services (Including ATMs),
local TV and radio services remain suspended. State-owned BSNL mobile services
have been restored on Wednesday in some limited areas of Srinagar
- Drinking water and power services are suspended since Sunday in Srinagar and
other flood affected areas. Power has been restored to some areas close to
Srinagar airport.
- As of 11 September, 2014; according to police sources, 220 people have died in
Srinagar city and bodies of women and children have been retrieved. The process
of retrieving bodies in on. Over 200 people have been killed by the floods
elsewhere.
- Hundreds of houses and buildings have collapsed in the last three days, especially
in Old Srinagar home to some 600,000 people. The exact casualties and damage
remains unknown.
- There is severe shortage of essential commodities. Markets wherever free of
water have run out of stocks
- Srinagars commercial hub Lal Chowk, administrative districts, including civil
secretariat, government TV and radio stations, Police headquarters, High Court
and almost all other important installations are submerged and immobilized.
- Due to submergence of critical go-downs in the commercial hubs of the flood
affected areas, particularly in and around Srinagar, an acute shortage of supplies is
like to emerge in the next few days, which has a potential of creating large-scale
disturbances.
- Flash floods in Jammu region has also resulted in disruption in road services in
the district of Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi.



About rescue and relief efforts:
- Most of the rescue and relief efforts are being carried out by local volunteers and
Indian army and air force. Close to 100,000 people - mostly visitors to and
construction workers in Kashmir - have been evacuated in the last three days by
armed forces. Local volunteer efforts - carried with improvised boats and floating
objects - are estimated to have rescued about one million people.
- MSF, Save the Children, Action Aid, ICRC and Handicap International are the only
international aid agencies operating in Kashmir. No INGO rescue or relief effort has
been initiated in Kashmir so far. Some relief efforts have been initiated in Jammu
region, particularly in Rajouri area.
- As of 11 September 2014, no inter-government or inter- aid agency coordination
efforts have been initiated in Kashmir.
- Kashmiri diaspora, private individual and non governmental actions are beginning
to witness aid mobilisation and transportation to Srinagar airport. The absence of a
centralised coordinated system has the risk of this aid effort being duplicated or
servicing non high priority areas.
- A Sphere India-led situation report - an inter-aid agency co-ordination system in
India - has been issued from New Delhi on 9th September. The report draws upon
secondary government and army information sources. An updated, ground-
informed and comprehensive situation report is awaited.
- No organised government rescue and relief has been initiated as of now due to
complete break-down of government administrative system
- Hundreds of relief camps have been established in and around Srinagar mostly
run by local volunteer efforts. Community kitchens and shelters have been
organised in hundreds of villages and habitations in and outside Srinagar.
- Critical aid requirements include: boats, drinking water, medicines, hygiene kits,
food, warm clothes, blankets, baby food, milk, childrens hygiene kits.