Harsh Vardhan proposes floating clinics for flood ravaged Srinagar

Returning here after a day’s tour of the flood ravaged areas, Harsh Vardhan said that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had received his 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.

Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Narinder Nath Vora, on whom the Minister made a call, had also agreed to push this idea.

The J&K Chief Minister praised the functioning of the reverse osmosis water treatment plants sent through Red Cross. The central government had also sent 80 women gynaecologists whose role had met with wide appreciation among the affected population.

Simultaneously, the Union Minister has urged the state’s health secretary and other 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 also 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,” Harsh Vardhan pointed out.

The Minister appreciated 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.

Accompanied by officials of the Ministry, who included P. Ravindran, Director, Emergency Medical Relief, Venkatesh, Additional Director, National Centre for Disease Control, and Anshu Prakash, Joint Secretary, Harsh Vardhan, visited the Hum Huma Relief Camp in Srinagar.

He visited the 60-bed composite hospital run by the BSF.

He stopped at the Ada Sayad Memorial District Hospital in Budgaon and interacted with doctors and patients.

At the Army Base Hospital he inspected the facilities for premature birth cases.

Harsh Vardhan, who visited the affected areas of Jammu and Poonch yesterday, also met the Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, who is camping in Srinagar.

“We discussed how best the relief work can be coordinated,” he added.