More than two weeks after the deluge hit Jammu and Kashmir, the task of assessing the damage and rebuilding has started, even as some areas of the state still remain under water. The administration, NGOs and other organizations are intensifying their efforts in this direction, as is the Red Cross.

Medical facilities in Srinagar have suffered large-scale damage because of the floods. Several of them had at least one floor inundated with water for over a week, which has caused huge material losses, especially to expensive medical equipment that is usually housed in the ground floor of such buildings. The hospitals and other medical facilities are now in the process of pumping out the last of the floodwaters and cleaning their premises, taking stock of their losses in the process.

The Red Cross is doing its bit to supplement the government’s efforts to get the medical facilities, hospitals and physical rehabilitation centres back on their feet. We donated basic items to some hospitals in this phase — 4,000 pairs latex gloves; 8,000 face masks, 8,800 water purification powder sachets; 2,760 packets of bleaching powder (500gm each), 1,125 pairs of surgical gloves, 492 rolls of bandage gauze. Additional cleaning products are in the process of being provided. On 16 September, the Red Cross donated 100 blankets and 50 mattresses to the Bone and Joints Hospital in Srinagar.

Red Cross provided Mattresses to Bone and Joint Hospital, Srinagar. ©ICRC/Bal Bhujel

The ICRC supports two physical rehabilitation centres — Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS) and the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) at the Bone and Joints Hospital in Srinagar produce prosthetics and orthotics and in providing physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation services. During the floods, the VMS buildings — a one-storeyed structures — were submerged . “In association with the VMS, we are currently assessing the damage caused by the floods. The premises and machinery are being cleaned now. Once electricity is restored, we will check the equipment to assess the damage. We will support them in rehabilitating the centre by replacing machines and provide other support if required,” said Robertangelo Ciccone, the Physical Rehabilitation Project manager at ICRC New Delhi.

A similar process is on at the ALC at Bone and Joints Hospital. Our objective is to help get these two physical rehab centres up and running as soon as possible so they can resume their services for people with disabilities in this time of crisis,” added Mr Ciccone.

ICRC New Delhi