Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 9: District Magistrate, Kathua, has ordered registration of an FIR against Chief Engineer, Ranjit Sagar dam Anil Sood for criminal negligence of dam management leading to death of a resident in Jarai area of Kathua. The matter of non-cooperation has also been raised with Punjab counterparts.
FIR No. 146/15 under Section 136 RPC has been registered against Chief Engineer and management of Ranjit Sagar dam, located between Kathua district of J&K and Pathankot district of Punjab. Meanwhile, residents of Jarai also protested against the incident and criminal negligence of dam authorities.
As per reports, the dam management released water during intervening night of May 7 and 8 leading to flooding of lower areas in Kathua tehsil which resulted in killing of one civilian and also dozens of livestock perished. The DC Kathua, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary took up matter with Chief Engineer Ranjit Sagar dam and Deputy Commissioner Pathankot. However, the water was stopped only on May 8 at 11.30 am. As the rescue operation was on, the dam authorities again released water resulting in narrow escape for a team of 15 men engaged in tracing the body. The issue was raised again with DC Pathankot, who intervened and water was again stopped but only for one hour following uninformed release.
One person Sayeed Mohammad, son of Mohd Musa of Maqsuspur, aged 64 was washed away along with livestock due to uninformed release of water. A team of Police and SDRF-Civil Defence is also engaged in search operation.
Pursuant to communication issued vide DMK/JC/2015-16/1997-99 dated May 8, 2015 by office of District Magistrate, Kathua, an FIR was registered in Police Station Kathua today against Chief Engineer, Ranjeet Sagar dam and the dam management. The Chief Engineer did not cooperate with district administration despite repeated communications and no prior information was given regarding release of water.
Meanwhile, on intervention of DC Kathua, the Additional Commissioner Pathankot, Rupanjali Karthik initiated action in the matter and directed for stoppage of dam water for 5 hours facilitating the search operation.
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