TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The flood situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir was getting worse on Monday with most of the capital Srinagar submerged and hundreds of towns and villages flooded.
Experts are worried that the flood could escalate to humanitarian crisis due to destruction of roads, telecommunication towers and electricity lines, cutting off access from outside, while landslides are being reported in many places.
"We are facing a big problem of communication as all links are down. We are not able to communicate with our teams sent on ground in this flood-ravaged areas. Also, as water level is high in many places our personnel are not able to reach the stranded," National Disaster Response Force chief O. P. Singh told reporters in Delhi.
Local TV footages showed pictures of some cities and villages flooded tens of thousands of people lacking drinking water and food and waiting for evacuation. So far, 160 people have reportedly died, but the number of the victims are estimated to be higher because many places could not be accessed.
Authorities said massive rescue operations are currently ongoing. Some 25 ships have been deployed to flooded areas in Srinagar to ferry people out. It is reported that more than 5,100 people have been rescued from flooded villages and towns.
ANINGTIAS JATMIKA | XINHUA