New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has proposed boats be mobilised to send medical supplies to the people of the inundated areas of Srinagar who find it impossible to venture out of their homes because of the high flood waters.
Briefing media in New Delhi after concluding day-long visit to the flood-hit state, he said that the Jammu and Kashmir government has accepted this proposal positively.
“The Chief Minister has directed his officials to mobilise the available boats and start something on an urgent basis. Meanwhile, I am arranging for accelerating the supply side especially in respect of doctors and health workers,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narinder Nath Vora, Vardhan said, also agreed to push this idea.
“People suffering from diabetes, hypertension among the cut-off population need to be urgently rushed their dozes of medicines. Only boats laden with such drugs can access such people,” the Union Minister said.
Vardhan also urged the state's Health Secretary and other top officials of the urgent need to dispose of the carcasses lying around Srinagar.
Pointing out that a number of diseases could spread because of the omnipresence of dead animals, he urged the launch of an information-education-communication-intervention offensive to make people conscious of the need to boil water before drinking and observing other hygienic parameters of the present situation.
“I have urged for central monitoring of the supply of filtered water. For people cut off I have advised that chlorine tablets be supplied. Just one tablet dissolved in 20 litres of water after 30 minutes could safeguard people against water borne diseases,” he said.
He also took the opportunity to appreciate the work of the Army, BSF and other agencies which are working round the clock to reach succour to the affected population.
“There are a large number of doctors from Delhi's Central government hospitals who rushed there at this calamitous time. I can't muster enough words in their praise,” he said.
