Gopal Sharma
—Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Sept 7: With the 46 more deaths reported in land-slides and house collapse at a remote village in Pancheri area of Udhampur and Mahore in Reasi, the death toll in massive rains and floods in last four days in Jammu region has reached 208 while thousands of people have rendered homeless and over 12,000 houses reported to have damaged fully and partially across the region.
Reports from Udhampur said that at Saddal village in Panjar Panchayat of Pancheri, about 55 kms from Udhampur, a massive landslide took place during heavy rain last evening. About 20-25 houses came under the debris and nearly 35 persons have been feared dead. The District Administration Udhampur, claimed to have recovered seven dead bodies so far. A family of retired Army personnel and some more people sensing danger yesterday had moved to the safer places but many others were still there in the houses and got perished in this natural calamity.
Since entire road and tele-communication has been cut off due to rains and floods, the Sarpanch of the village Romesh Kumar reported the matter to the police Station this morning at Pancheri after covering a long distance on foot. The matter was taken up with the Deputy Commissioner, Yasha Mudgal Udhampur and the DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Greeb Dass, who sought assistance from the Indian Air Force to air-lift relief and rescue material along with medical team to the site.
In remote Mallas area of Mahore, over 2000 villagers have rendered homeless as massive landslides have created havoc in the area. Eight persons are said to have been missing or feared dead while most of them managed to flee away, leaving their homes and property. The Administration has failed to reach up to them even today, despite clear weather, moreover, in the absence of any network, it was very difficult to reach there. A police team which managed to establish contact with them this afternoon told that over 2000 villagers have rendered homeless. They are shelter-less and sitting in the open with their children. There are no blankets or food with them. Three more persons were killed in two separate incidents in Mahore area of Reasi today.
DIG Gareeb Dass when contacted said that in second attempt, the MI-17 helicopter of the IAF landed near the village at around 12.30 pm along with Medical team, police and NDRF team and started rescue operation. The locals of the area had already gathered there in large number. With the help of locals seven dead bodies have been recovered so far. He said the population is scattered on this mountain and this huge mountain mass weighing thousands of tons has come down. It is very difficult to retrieve bodies manually moreover, there is no road to the area as the village is about 4 km on- foot journey from Panjar, therefore, carrying JCB etc is not possible. The road communication has also snapped at many places.
Referring to the incident of Mahore, the DIG said that land slide has struck remote Mallas village in this area and seven to eight persons reported to have been missing. He said many villagers have turned homeless and there was no communication at all. The villagers were demanding chopper service to airlift them to some schools or other shelters. “We had requisitioned the helicopter service to for area but it could not be made available today. Some sort of help was being rendered to them by the villagers of that area. By tomorrow, we will try to drop food packets for them or evacuate them to the safer shelters,” the DIG maintained.
He further disclosed that Shri Shakti Express train which had been trapped near Ramnagar Station in Udhampur has been sent back to Jammu. The track is not still thrown open to traffic from Jammu to Katra as protection wall has been damaged at Sangarh and there the track is still risky. It may take 2-3 more days to clear the track up to Katra. He said there were 492 passengers and mostly pilgrims in the train and they have gone back to Delhi as Yatra to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine has also been suspended.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu told the Excelsior that rescue team at Panjar village of Pancheri has been air-dashed and the operation has been started. Eight dead bodies of locals have been retrieved so far. He said the police and Medical teams have reached there and the work with the help of locals and SDRF teams was started. He said the villagers rendered homeless are being accommodated at the nearby Govt school. Referring to Mahore incident of land slides, Divisional Commissioner said there was massive communication problem and administration was trying to establish contact. He, however, said that many villagers said to have rendered homeless there. The SDM Mahore has been directed to reach out to the people for immediate assistance, he added.
A senior police official from Udhampur identified the deceased whose dead bodies have been recovered from the debris at Panjar in Pancheri. They are Uttam Singh, son of Balak Ram, Rajeev Singh, son of Kapoor Singh, Sapna, wife of Rajeev Singh and his 11- month old daughter and 3-yr-old son Darsha, 15-year-old Radha Devi, daughter of Girdhari Lal and 4-year-old Sikander, son of Balkar. The search for the remaining bodies will be resumed tomorrow. Over 60 cattle also said to have been perished in the land slides.
Out of the 46 feared dead, bodies of nine persons have been recovered in Udhampur and Mahore. The search for the others has been taken up. Three others killed in Lar area of Mahore are identified as Ali Mohd, son of Jamal Din, Jahangir Ahmed, son of Ali Mohd (feared washed away) and Mohd Hussain, son of Hussain Din of Lar. One Mohd Misri was rescued by the villagers.
DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, A K Atri disclosed that out of the 63 marriage party members, who washed away along with bus in Lam area of Nowshera, three days back, the bodies of five more persons were recovered today. Two bodies had washed away to Khour area of Akhnoor. He said many bodies were still missing and feared to have crossed over to PoK. A message has been communicated to the authorities on that side of the LoC. He said this nallah moves along LoC and then crosses over to that side and then again flowing on this side in Khour area.
The deceased whose bodies were recovered today are identified as Karamveer Singh (10), son of Jagdish Singh of Rajpura Bhata, Gurmeet Kour (20), wife of Karanjit Singh of Rajpura Bhata, baby Harmeet Kour ( 2 months), daughter of Rattan Singh of Rajpura Bhata, Dalbir Kour (35), wife of Nirmal Singh of Rajpura Kamila and baby Sonia (2 months), daughter of Swarn Singh of Rajpura Bhata.
Meanwhile, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to be closed on the fourth consecutive day while Jammu-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and Jammu -Rajouri road was cleared for traffic late this evening. The road clearance work has been launched on war footing with the help of Army. The GREF has sought the help of Army in clearing Jammu-Srinagar Highway. 113 Engineer Regiment of the Army cleared Highway between Udhampur and Batote and by tomorrow the road is expected to be cleared up to Ramban. The land slides at Korha Pani and Raggi Nallah have been cleared for light motor vehicles. It is uphill task for the BRO to clear highway between Ramban and Banihal as road has totally washed away at some places. Near Ramsu about 300 mt road has been washed away. There is need to raise retaining walls. Many link roads are still closed while traffic on Udhampur-Ramnagar, Samba- Mansar, Kathua- Billawar, Basohli and even Bani has been restored.
Reports said in Mallas area of Mahore eight persons were feared dead while over 2000 have been rendered homeless in land slides. The people are sitting in the open with out any assistance from the administration. 56 cattle reported to have been perished in the incident. A police official has confirmed that houses of Akhtar Hussain, son of Jamal Din, Mohd Yunis, Mehandi Shah, Ishfaq Hussain, Bansi Lal, Hoshiyar Singh, Kamal Singh, Des Raj, Suraj Ram, Nain Singh, Prem Singh and Bashir-ud-Din have been completely perished. More details could not be made available in view of very poor communication from there. The locals of the area were providing help to these villagers as many children and women are sitting in the open.
DC Poonch, MH Malik said that no fresh loss of life has been reported today but reports of house collapse and other damages are reaching to the district headquarters. Total 21 deaths have been reported in last four days while one person is missing. He claimed that total 6092 houses have been damaged so far of which 572 are Pucca while 1720 `Kucha’, which were damaged fully. Erosion of over 28,000 kanals of land has also been reported. A total 191 Gharats, and 203 shops were also damaged and 8700 cattle sheds also got perished. 798 cattle/ sheep/ goats have been killed. Over 373 trapped persons have been evacuated from various locations by Army and Police. He said that power and water supply to many areas is still affected.
Over 2740 houses reported to have been damaged so far in Rajouri, over 170 in Mahore area of Reasi while reports of damages are reaching from Doda, Kathua, Ramban, Kishtwar, Udhampur and other parts. 447 sheep/ goats , 67 cows have also killed in Mahore area so far. No press loss of life has been reported from Kathua, Samba and Jammu today. While The administration was providing all possible assistance to the people accommodated in Government schools and other buildings. The power supply was restored to Rajouri area this evening but it was still suspended to parts of Ramban. The water level in Tawi, Chanab, Ujh and other rivers and nallahs has also receded.
A Defence spokesman said that the IAF carried out 15 sorties with MI-17 aircrafts led by Wing Commander Anup Sharma and Sqd Leader C P Sawasthi, Sqd Ldrs A Sangwan, Sailesh Singh and Khanduri and rescued 120 civilians today. They also ferried 12 tons of relief material and medicines at flood affected areas. Two sorties of AN-32 aircrafts were also carried out to transport relief material on different inaccessible areas.
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