Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Sept 10: As many as 147 sportspersons including some officials, who were stranded at Indoor Complex, Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar due to flash floods in the Valley, have been rescued by the Indian Army and have been lodged at safer place namely Shaheed Bhunga Gurdwara at Barzulla in Srinagar, today.
However, a 15-member hockey team, out of these players, has been airlifted to Jammu today and the rest of the players will be airlifted tomorrow.
These sportspersons were part of the 180-member Jammu province contingent including a few players from Leh and Kargil for the State Level Inter-District Competitions in the disciplines of Hockey, Table Tennis, Judo and allied Martial Arts, being organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
Sources said that 27 players of this contingent along with District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Doda, had already arrived to Jammu on the other day.
Sources further said that these budding players including boys and girls are from the districts of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Poonch, adding that majority of them are from Jammu, with 27 plus 4 officials from Kathua and a few from Udhampur and Poonch.
When contacted Harvinder Singh, Physical Education Master and In-Charge hockey team, who has not come to Jammu and has stayed with the other players, said, though, all the players and officials are safe, yet are desperate to fly to Jammu.
He further said that the Minister for Sports, Raman Bhalla and the officers of the Department of Youth Services and Sports are in close contact with us since the BSNL mobile service has been restored and we are hopeful that all of us will be airlifted tomorrow.
“I was with the hockey players, who were airlifted today at Shaheed Bhunga Gurdwara and I preferred at Srinagar to stay with the other players to help them in their safe journey to Jammu. Army provided us food items today and after taking the same, we ensured comfortable sleep of all the players.
We are highly thankful to the Indian Army, Minister for Sports and Divisional Commissioner Jammu for rescuing the entire contingent,” expressed Harvinder.
Meanwhile, parents and relatives of the sportspersons were waiting in the wings to receive their wards in Jammu and were pleased to know that all of them (players) have been rescued and lodged at a comfortable Gurdwara.
Captain Rattan Singh, father of judoka Sanjeev Singh said, “We were horribly worried about the welfare of our wards, however, when we talked to coaches and officials of the players from the Sports Minister’s residence in Jammu, we have been feeling ecstatic, adding “we are hopeful that our wards will be airlifted to Jammu tomorrow.”
Another parent Kuldeep Raj, father of Sahil Bhagat and Sunil Bhagat said, “We have no regrets and we are satisfied with the rescue operations. We will be having the ultimate satisfaction when we receive our wards hopefully tomorrow.”
Uncle of judoka Aditya Singh, son of Kuldeep Singh said that “All we needed was the rescue of the players and after knowing about their welfare, we are satisfied with the proceedings. Now, the only demand we have is the airlifting of these players early tomorrow.”
Talking to EXCELSIOR, Minister for Sports, Raman Bhalla said that the entire contingent of sportspersons from Jammu is at a safer place in water-lodged Srinagar and will be airlifted tomorrow, adding that he has directed officers and officials of the DYSS to be in close contact with the officials accompanying the contingent round the clock.
Meanwhile, EXCELSIOR received phone calls from the parents to know the welfare of Jammu based cricketers, who were in different hotels in Srinagar and reportedly been taken to safer places. Shubham Khajuria, Ian Dev Singh, Ramdayal, Hardeep Singh and Raman Thaploo are a few stranded cricketers to name.
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