Over 100 Odisha plumbers stranded in Jammu and Kashmir

Over 100 plumbers of Kendrapara district working in Jammu and Kashmir are stranded in the flood-ravaged Valley, leaving their families in a state of uncertainty.

"We have received reports of plumbers of the district stranded in Jammu and Kashmir. To ensure the safety of the migrant workers, the administration is taking up the matter with the principal relief commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir though state government agencies," District Collector Pramod Kumar Das said.

"Some of the stranded workers have managed to communicate with their family members, while others are yet to do so. The district labour officer has been asked to keep constant touch with the families of stranded workers," he said.

The state government would take all steps for their safe return to their native villages, Das said. The skilled plumbers, who are reported to be stranded in Kashmir, are from Balipatana, Badamulabasanta, Penthapala, Srirampur, Belapala, Taradipala, Alapua, Kasanta, Balipada and ward no-7 Pattamundai Notified Area Council. Majority of the migrant workers are stranded in Srinagar and its outskirts, officials said.

Anam Biswal(60) from Balipada village was, however, fortunate with both his sons managing to speak to him on Wednesday.

"God is kind. He had listened to my prayers. My sons Amit and Sumit are alive in the ravaged Valley. They talked to me for a minute after which their mobile was switched off.

"They are in distress through they are safe. They have saved their lives staying on the rooftops of a building in Srinagar," said Biswal.

Braja Kishore Ojha said, "My son (Ganeswar Ojha) told me over phone that he has been rescued by the Air Force. He is safe. He was stranded atop a three-storey building owned by a Muslim family. My son was among 50 others who had taken shelter there. All of them went without food for three days.

Food packets airdropped by the Air Force saved them from starvation."