German woman searches for husband missing in Kashmir floods

Floods in Srinagar

New Delhi: A German woman whose husband has gone missing in flood-swamped Srinagar, where he had come to attend a wedding, has appealed to the Indian government for help.

Sullz Berger-Ashai, who is here with her 21-year-old son and a teenaged daughter, approached the officials at the Jammu and Kashmir House in New Delhi where authorities have set up a control room for those who want to contact their dear ones stranded in the state.

Kashmir Floods

"We last talked on Friday evening, when he told me that his locality is full of water but he will manage to reach a safer place. From the next morning his phone was off and no communication could be made. I am very worried. I have come to know the situation is bad," Berger-Ashai, 56, told IANS.

Srinagar is battling the worst floods in 60 years, which have left 200 people dead. While hundreds have been rendered homeless, the main city of Srinagar has been partially submerged under water.

Berger-Ashai's husband Ashai Mohd. Saeed is a native of Jammu and Kashmir. The couple got married in 1993 in Germany.

Saeed came to Srinagar to attend the marriage of his nephew two months ago.

The marriage was slated for Sep 16 and Berger-Ashai and her children were to attend it too.

She told IANS that she reached Delhi Saturday with her children after several failed attempts to contact her husband over the phone. Currently, she is putting up in a hotel in Paharganj area in central Delhi.

"Although four days have passed since my husband and his 84-year-old mother have gone missing, I am hopeful that both are safe. Officials at Jammu and Kashmir House assured me that they will provide me every help," she said.

According to officials of Jammu and Kashmir House, Berger-Ashai is the first foreigner who has contacted them for help.

"I also contacted the German embassy, from where I got to know that eight other German nationals have gone missing too," Berger-Ashai told IANS.