Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 10: While prime focus of the Government carrying rescue and relief operation continued to be in Kashmir valley, the hapless people from most of the remote areas of Rajouri, Reasi, Poonch, Udhampur, Ramban and Doda are still cut off and left on the mercy of God by the Administration.
The hollow claims of the District Administrations stood exposed as in many hilly and remote areas the Revenue and Police teams have not reached yet to provide assistance. Several Sarpanchs and Numberdars from various areas who spoke to Daily Excelsior on phone, claimed that most of the lists being provided by the Revenue staff to the higher officials are bogus and incorrect as they have not paid visit to their areas.
The people from Mallas and adjoining areas in Gulabgarh (Mahore) disclosed that claim of the District Administration Reasi having air-dropped food packets and other material in their area is factually incorrect. They said in last four days, no help from the SDM/ Tehsildar Mahore or the DC Reasi has reached to their area. On the day of incident some RR jawans had reached there and helped people in taking out from the landslide zone. Over 2000 people spent night in the open and they kept waiting for help but there was no chopper service to the area. The locals of the area helped some people in accommodating in their houses. No tents, blankets, food material, ration etc has been provided so far.
Haji Jamal Din, an elderly villager from Mallas area told the Excelsior that despite many phone calls to the SDM, his phone always found switched off. He said people have been forced to live in the open along with their children. Many of them have fallen sick. They have no food, tents and blankets. Some people of that area managed some food and blankets for them yesterday. No person from the Administration or even their MLA has not reached up to them.
Another villager from Shajru, Sarpanch Abdul Hamid said there are nearly 2000 people in Mallas and adjoining hamlets who have turned home less after landslide incident. There is Army camp about 25 kms away from the affected area, the jawans reached there after tragedy and rendered some help but the Administration is missing. They need immediate help like tents, blankets, food and utensils. He alleged that people in this area are facing crisis for want of help whereas, all the helicopters and Army units have been deployed for relief in Kashmir and Administration in Jammu is sleeping. He alleged that no chopper with relief material has reached there even after four days of the tragedy.
Reports from Kotranka area in Rajouri said that extensive damage to the houses of the people besides PHE, PDD infrastructure and roads has been caused in Khawas, Peeri and Kandi- Budhal area. The communication system has totally collapsed and the Administration has failed to reach up to the people. Nearly 15 Panchayats of Khawas and 10 Panchayats of Budhal area are still cut off. No Chopper with relief has reached there moreover, District Administration has failed to attend the people of this remote and mountainous belt.
Former Minister of State for Forests, Th Puran Singh who has been held up at his village Kewal in Budhal for the last one week alleged that Administration is totally missing. The concerned officials have failed to reach up the people. There is massive loss of property, land and crops of the villagers. He claimed that many people from Khawas area have reached Kotranka on foot and they have informed that many villagers are facing starvation. The eatables at the local shops have also been consumed and there are no food items, ration, kerosene oil. There is no body to look after them. He claimed that many people from the area have gone to their Dhokes on Pir Panjal along with their cattle. There is no news about their well being. The communication has snapped and the roads have also blocked and could not be restored.
Th Singh claimed that he had spoken to DC Rajouri yesterday who had assured to send ration but even today, no supply was provided. He said in proper Budhal area many houses have collapsed. Aans river has caused extensive damage in Peeri and other areas. Standing crops of the farmers have damaged. Hundreds of houses have been damaged but the Administration has yet to reach up to the public. The officers do not bother to move on foot and imaginary figures are being projected by them without taking on the spot assessment. He urged upon the Divisional Administration Jammu and Chief Secretary to direct concerned officers to launch immediate relief and rehabilitation operation in this area.
Some areas of Darhal, Thannamandi and Kalakote besides Khawas also remained unattended and need immediate assistance. Even areas like Channi Parat, Parodi, Pannad and Daraj need urgent attention. At Channi Parat houses of two brothers Mohd Shafi and Mohd Misri have totally perished and about a dozen members are sitting in the open. At Sokarh village in Darhal, about 45 houses have been damaged and people are homeless. Numberdar Mushtaq alleged that people are badly suffering and there is no help from the Administration. No Revenue officials reached there till today. There is no electricity and water supply and the road links have snapped. There is acute shortage of essential commodities. Many people who have turned homeless need blankets, tents, utensils and food material. Sarpanch Mohd Afzal from Gurdan alleged that a Govt Middle School perished in land slides at the village. About half a dozen houses in the area have also suffered damage.
Advocate Masud Choudhary from Parori in Darhal said that many areas are still cut off and there was no help from the Administration. He alleged that people are eagerly waiting for response. Peeri nallah has caused massive erosion and hundreds of kanals of land with crops has washed away. He urged upon the Administration to send Revenue officials to the area to assess damages.
In Loran, Khet and Saujian, Bafliaz area of Poonch massive damage has been caused to the houses and public, but there is no help from the Administration. The people of the area have demanded restoration of water , power supply and the road link. There is also shortage of ration and kerosene oil. Similar reports have received from Mohu Mangat and Pogal Paristan area of Ramban and many other remote areas of Chenani, Basantgarh, Dudu in Ramnagar and Doda. In Poonch, 214 schools have been damaged. 35 of them were damaged fully and 179 partially. 110 of them are Primary schools. Meanwhile, one more dead body of marriage party member hailing from Lam area of Nowshera was recovered from Pallanwalla area of Khour today. The deceased has been identified as Jasbir Kour (40), wife of Antar Singh of Rajpura Bhata.
From Saddal village in Pancheri area of Udhampur, rescue operation is continued but no dead body of the missing persons could be recovered today. The road from Udhampur and Kirmochi up to Panjar village has been restored.
The DIG Gareeb Dass said that the rescue teams were replaced today and they used road link for the travel today. No success could be achieved during operation today.
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