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| KASHMIR CATASTROPHE: Complete administrative breakdown in Valley as police, Govt turns nelson eye | | Army, NDRF, local volunteers take charge to rescue, evacuate lakhs stranded | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, Sept 11: There is a complete breakdown of the administrative and police machinery in Kashmir, with no state officers or cops to be seen in the rescue missions.
Meanwhile, the hospitals are without even drinking water and life-saving drugs for their patients. Sikh and Hindu families together are reported taking shelter in upper floors of mosques and Muslim families in Gurdwaras, wherever help is available closest. The catastrophe that has hit Kashmir has revealed both the reprehensible and the magnificent amongst all.
The rescue operations to evacuate the acutely-hit flood victims and reach out help to them are being carried out almost exclusively by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Army personnel, besides the local volunteers. Surprisingly, even students from Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi have reached Kashmir to lend their support to the effected people. But it is shocking to note that the state administration, particularly Jammu and Kashmir Police, is nowhere in the scene to aid relief work.
Villages washed off
Reports reaching here from Kulgam district in south Kashmir reveal that two villages, Ari Gutnu and Keller have been washed away by the floodwaters of Vashaw nallah. Dozens are feared dead. However, the local administration is tight-lipped about the death toll. Army teams reveal that the entire scale of devastation is not known yet, since many areas are still inaccessible. "We will come to know of the total damage caused in the countryside in the coming weeks," he said.
Apathy at the highest quarters
Some residents of Tulsi Bagh government quarters today alleged that IGP Kashmir AG Mir, who resides in the same area, immediately left with his family in a boat when the flood hit Tulsi Bagh. "He did not warn his neighbours or send any help for them," alleged an area resident.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Faroq Ahmad Shah visited LD Hospital on September 5. The hospital administration, patients and attendants told him of the problems being faced by them like shortage of essential medicines, drinking water and food. It is learnt that the DC assured them of help, but the hospital received no assistance.
This correspondent was the first outsider to reach the hospital at about 11 am today after the DC's visit, after wading through water. The situation in the hospital was deplorable, with patients, attendants and hospital staff huddled together on upper floors. There was no drinking water and essential medicines, and the toilets were in a most appalling state.
Fortunately, Army teams reached the hospital within half an hour, with eatables and drinking water. The Army teams were followed by groups of students from Jamia Milia, carrying medicines, light jackets, baby food and blankets. Kavish Mehra and Saima Ali, who were among the group of students, told this correspondent that it was horrifying that nobody from the state administration or J&K Police was available to seek assistance, or even tell them how to reach the victims.
"We were attacked by angry youth at many places yesterday. They seemed to have been disoriented by the harsh conditions over the last few days and attacked us in blind anger," said Saima.
Muslims, Sikhs take shelter together
At the mosque in Wazirbagh area, a number of Muslim and Sikh families had taken shelter. They told this correspondent that over the last few days, they had escaped the fury of the flood by rising to the fourth and fifth floors of the mosque. It was only yesterday, after the water receded to some extent that they were able to use the third floor also.
After some time, these families were rescued by teams of NDRF, and taken by boat to Solina, where water receded today morning, and there is access to road.
Tariq Ahmed, a 55-year old resident of Wazirbagh who was evacuated along with his family today, had a harrowing tale to narrate. "There were about 200 men, women and children in the mosque for almost a whole week. We had nothing to eat, and not even water to drink. Many women and children fainted. Thank God, nobody died," he said.
Tariq said that it was only yesterday evening that Army teams reached the mosque with some food and water. "Many of us had not thought we would survive this ordeal," he said.
'J&K policemen, officers not joining rescue work'
Deputy Commandant Jai Deep, who is commanding the Bathinda team of NDRF, told this correspondent at Solina that the team is facing difficulties because nobody from the local police is joining the rescue work. "For three days now, not even a single policeman is available to assist and guide us in the rescue operation. They are the ones who know the areas and the best approach roads. But J&K policemen are nowhere to be seen. Who do we complain to, when we do not even see any senior officers," said Jai Deep.
As chance would have it, DIG Central Kashmir Ifad-Ul-Mujtaba reached the spot just when this correspondent was talking to the NDRF Deputy Commandant in his official vehicle. Even as the Deputy Commandant was waiting for him for an interaction, the DIG took a u-turn and went away from the spot without taking stock of the situation.
The NDRF official said that his 200 men are not getting any logistic support from the state administration. "It is the Army ferrying our men and equipment from one affected area to another," said Jai Deep.
NDRF teams attacked, two men injured
NDRF Deputy Commandant Jai Deep said that at many places, the locals are attacking the NDRF teams. "We fail to understand why they are attacking us when we are doing our best to extend assistance, and evacuate the needy," he said. "Only yesterday, our two men Sameer Parida and Karnail Singh were attacked at Boulevard Road with sharp-edged weapons, injuring both of them. Both had to be evacuated, and Sameer was admitted to a hospital in Chandigarh," he said.
Refuting the allegations of discrimination in evacuating the flood victims, the Deputy Commandant said that the NDRF teams are being guided by the local youth to the most critically-affected areas.
6,000 people of all faiths converge at Gurdwara
At the Sanat Nagar gurdwara, about 6,000 people of all faiths have taken refuge. This area was fortunately not flooded. Gurjeet Singh, the president of Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Budgam, said that they have registered 45 Muslim families among the people who have gathered here to seek refuge from the flood. "The imam of the mosque in Sanat Nagar contacted us and requested us that since we had a very large number of people here, we could send some families to take shelter there. On his request, 35 Muslim families were moved to the mosque," said Gurjeet Singh.
On September 10, about 10,000 people including approximately 2,000 Muslims and 1,500 Bihari labourers and 250 tourists took langar at the mosque.
Floodwaters receding, border towns cut-off
Floodwaters have started receding from most of the areas of Srinagar which were earlier inundated. However, bordering townships are still inaccessible since road contact has not been restored.
The Civil Secretariat and J&K High Court remained closed for the sixth day today.
Srinagar is still cut off from south Kashmir. Some men from Shopian, a hilly district, somehow managed to reach Srinagar today. They said that they had come to enquire about the welfare of their loved ones living in the capital city.
Some other men who managed to reach Srinagar from Bijbehara said that two bridges on the way to Srinagar were found broken, and they faced great trouble in reaching here.
'Kashmiris fighting fury of nature in harmony'
Channi Singh, a local politician, told this correspondent that Kashmiris are fighting the fury of nature in complete harmony and oneness. "We all are looking at the problem through a human angle, and standing together to face it. This is a characteristic of our soil, for which Kashmiris have been known," he said.
Members of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) were also seen assisting the local Sikhs in relief work. A team of doctors from Delhi had just arrived to provide medical assistance to the affected people in the gurdwara. Jasbir Singh Jassi of DSGMC said that the country stands by Kashmiris through this terrible calamity. |
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