Jammu, September 8
In the submerged Kashmir, Shankaracharya hillock has become a saviour for tourists and those from outside the Valley as they have taken shelter there to save themselves from the gushing flood waters in Srinagar. Shankaracharya Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated on this hillock at a height of 1,100 feet above surface level of Srinagar city.

“On Saturday, when we heard that the flood water had started accumulating in Srinagar and there was a warning of floods we decided to move to this hillock. We, along with more than 1,000 persons, including government employees from Jammu, tourists from outside Jammu and Kashmir and the residents of Srinagar city, have taken shelter here and are waiting for water level to recede,” said Sachin Sharma, a resident of Pacca Danga, Jammu, on phone.

There has been a complete breakdown of mobile cell and internet services since Sunday afternoon. The people in Jammu and other parts of the country have failed to establish contacts with their loved ones stranded in the Kashmir Valley.

A community kitchen, run by some social organisations on this hillock, has been providing food and drinking water to those present there. According to Kashmir Channel of Doordarshan, which was transmitting live coverage of flood situation in Kashmir from a makeshift arrangement on Shankaracharya hillock, there were reports of shortage of food as more people have rushed to the hillock to take shelter.

“Yesterday, I got a phone call from my brother who is an employee in the Civil Secretariat. He asked me to request Army authorities in Srinagar to airlift them from the Shivpora area where he had taken refuge on the third floor of his hotel. In the afternoon, he called up from Shankaracharya hillock saying he had managed to reach the safer place in Srinagar city,” Bharat Bhushan Gupta, a resident of Channi Himmat area, said.

* Thousands of tourists and others have taken shelter there to save themselves from gushing floodwaters

* A community kitchen is being run by some social organisations on this hillock.

* Those stranded are being provided food and drinking water.