Over 76,500 rescued as water levels recede in most parts of Kashmir Over 76,500 people have been rescued in Jammu and Kashmir and relief efforts were on in the flood-hit parts of the state where thousands still remained trapped even as the flood waters continued to recede on Wednesday, officials said, adding that at least 215 people have died in the inundation. The statement said the army has deployed 329 columns of its personnel for rescue and relief operations, of which 244 columns were deployed in the Srinagar region and 85 in the Jammu region. Lakhs of people trapped in floods-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir with some left marooned on rooftops and others clinging to trees are in dire need of water and food. Many people remained trapped in Srinagar city alone that was inundated in flood waters during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. "Unless the flood waters recede completely, and we are able to reach all the submerged areas, we cannot be sure about the exact toll in these floods," a top state official said in Srinagar. Officials said Over 76,500 marooned people have been rescued so far in the state, but they also confirmed Wednesday that many more could still be trapped in submerged areas. The water level of the river Jhelum continued to recede in Srinagar and throughout the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday. Areas like Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Gogjibagh, Bemina, Mehjor Nagar, Karan Nagar and Qamarwari in the Srinagar city were still submerged under flood waters. The Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain closed for the seventh day Wednesday, but traffic on the over 440-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway was restored Tuesday. An acute crisis of petrol and kerosene had hit the Valley. On Wednesday, all filing stations in Srinagar said they had run out of fuel. The rescuers from the Indian Armed Forces and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have distributed 8,200 blankets and 650 tents so far to those affected by the floods. The army also has distributed 150,000 litres of water, 2.6 tonnes of biscuits, seven tonnes of baby food and 28,000 food packets in the flood-affected areas. "Additional water bottles are being air-lifted from Chandigarh and Delhi. In an endeavour to provide speedy medical aid to the affected populace, 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have also swung into action," the defence ministry statement said. So far, 79 transport aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps have been pressed into service. The statement added that more relief material, including 2,000 hospital bed sheets, blankets and tents, water bottles and cooked food are being air-lifted on Wednesday. So far, 613 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of the armed forces and 715 tonnes of relief materials were dropped by the Indian Air Force. As many as 135 army boats and 148 inflatable boats of the NDRF are actively involved in the rescue operation. To restore road connectivity, five task forces of Border Roads Organisation, which include 5,700 personnel, have been pressed into service. Fifteen engineering task force teams along with boats and other lifesaving equipment have reached the flood-affected areas to supplement the rescue operation. The situation was being continuously monitored at the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) in New Delhi. A fallout of the floods has been the breakdown of the communication systems in the Valley. The radio station and Doordarshan facility have been shut for the last four days. All cell phone service providers, except Aircel, went on the blink, snapping connectivity. Many Kashmiris feel the state government has failed to reach out to the people. All police stations were Tuesday directed to locate heads of various government departments for a meeting in Srinagar Wednesday. "We want food and water urgently. Please save us," pleaded Meena Ahmed, who along with her family members is stranded in Qayoom Colony in Rawalpora for the past five days. Over 4000 people, who have been rescued from Shiv Pora, Indra Nagar, Batwara and Jawahar Nagar areas and put up at Zeishts Devi Temple area, have been facing starvation. Over 70 medical students are trapped in a hostel in Batmaloo area and sought help of IAF. Nearly 60 people trapped at Hari Prabat hill in the city are also making frantic calls for food and water. "We want water and food. We will die here. Please ask IAF choppers to drop some food pockets here," one of trapped persons S Lala said. Tasleema Shafi, along with three of her family members, is desperately seeking help from Army and IAF for rescuing them from near Madina Masjid in Hazratbal area, where nearly three floors of her house are submerged. While the Army, Air Force and NDRF personnel are out to aid those stranded, residents lament that no one from the state administration or local bodies could be seen in their hour of grief. "We appreciate the work done by NDRF and other forces but it is evident they are clueless in these areas as they are new to the state," an angry resident here said. "This problem could be solved by deploying a state police jawan or any other official on the boat who is aware about the area and could direct the help to the most needy areas. But it (state administration) is nowhere," he claimed. His view was echoed by a resident of the Dal lake area who said he put together an improvised boat to escape the flood waters and reach a safer area. "I do not know where my state government and local administration are? No one is reaching for help in many areas...I saw that myself...My friends who are safe now also told me this. I rowed my own boat to escape," the young man said. In many places where water levels showed some signs of receding, people could be seen rowing boats and rescuing women, children and the old. An old woman present in the Kashmir University campus expressed her anger that the government was only making "claims" that everyone will be helped but nothing was happening on the ground. "I have been taken out after three days. But still there are people who are stuck and no help is reaching them. Where is my government," she asked. Those people who have been rescued to safer locations are also complaining of not getting enough basic food materials like biscuits, milk, water and packed eatables. Many expressed their angst over not getting enough warm clothes and blankets as those perched on the top of their homes have to brave the cold during evening and late night hours. Tourists who have been evacuated to dry places like Kashmir University grounds said there is no way to reach the airport as there are no boats or vehicles available. "I was told that Air India has kept planes ready to take people out of the state but how do I reach the airport? There are no boats or vehicles available," Mumbai resident Mohammed Zubair said. Thousands of Army, NDRF, and Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel along with helicopters and boats have been deployed by the government to begin the relief and rescue operations.