Srinagar/Jammu, Sept 8 (PTI): The government deployed marine commandos for the first time in the massive multi-agency rescue operations that were under way in flood-ravaged Jammu & Kashmir.

The navy commandos helped rescue around 200 stranded people on the Srinagar-Sopore Highway, while naval diving teams are also on standby at New Delhi, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for the rescue efforts.

Although there was no fresh rainfall in the Valley on Monday, because of the heavy rains since last Tuesday, the floodwaters still pose a challenge to rescue agencies struggling to evacuate tens of thousands of stranded people.

Large parts of Srinagar were under water and dozens of boats were deployed.

Desperate residents were huddled on rooftops and upper floors of their houses in several areas as they tried to escape the worst flooding in the state in six decades that has already claimed more than 150 lives.

The Indian Air Force flew several sorties for relief work, which was extended to South Kashmir for the first time. Nearly 22,000 people have been evacuated so far, including 2,000 from Srinagar city and adjoining areas.

The IAF has deployed 45 aircraft and helicopters for the operations, a defence spokesman said.

The rescued included 1,400 Army personnel and their families trapped by floodwaters at the Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar.

The cantonment along with areas of Shivpora and Indranagar in Srinagar were submerged as the water level rose as high as 18 feet due to breach in the Jhelum River.

A defence spokesman said the army plans to continue the rescue operations even at night, since thousands of people are still trapped on upper storeys or rooftops of houses in several areas in the Valley.

The floods have snapped Kashmir Valley's telecommunication links with the rest of the country, and government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd is taking the help of the Army and IAF to restore mobile telephony services via satellites.

The head of the National Disaster Response Force, O.P. Singh, said rescue agencies were facing a big problem of communication as all links are down.

“We are not able to communicate with our teams sent on ground in this flood-ravaged areas. Also, as water level is high in many places our personnel are not able to reach the stranded,” Singh told reporters in Delhi.

An IAF officer said the situation in Jammu sector was under control but in Srinagar it was yet to improve. The weather in Srinagar remained cloudy, he said.

Defence spokesman Col S.D. Goswami said 212 army columns have been deployed so far. Each army column consists of 75 to 100 troops.

The army has also deployed 65 medical teams and 15 Engineer Task Forces (ETFs), and is sending in more ETFs and medical teams, Goswami said. The ETF teams have boats and life-saving equipment.

”Relief operations are continuing with unabated intensity. 83 tonnes of emergency rations, 3,000 blankets, 45,000 litres of potable water, 1,000 life jackets and 220 tents are being airlifted from Chandigarh, Pathankot and Kanpur.

The army has distributed 23,000 lires of water and 600-kg of biscuits in the flood-affected areas along with 4,000 blankets and 90 tents.

The spokesman said that 85 tonnes of medicines has been airlifted for the flood victims while 16 relief camps are being set up in different parts of the state.

Meanwhile, even as the rescue operations continue, large- scale relief camps are being set up at Avantipur and Anantnag, Goswami said.

To cater to the people being evacuated from Srinagar, makeshift relief camps have been set up inside Badami Bagh Cantonment and the services of 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, are being utilised.