news details |
|
|
| One month later, Noushehra still mourns its dead | | Relief, ex- gratia fail to assuage wounds of survivors | | Early Times Report
Rajouri , Oct 5: Inhabitants of Rajpur Bhata and its adjoining areas including Kamila, Handan, Kanara in Noushera tehsil are still in a shock and mourning the deaths of their 66 beloved who were the members of marriage party and were washed away in the flash floods.
The incident took place on September , 4 when the bus in which they were travelling in fell in the surging waters of a seasonal rivulet . Army , police , disaster teams and locals have recovered 52 bodies till today and 14 including 4 males, 9 females and one children are still missing.
71 marriage party members including 23 males, 30 females and 18 were traveling in the bus that left for Lam from Rajpur at about 11.30 am and after covering some distance the tragic incident took place.
Members of 14 families from Rajpur Bhata, Rajpur Kameela and Kanara still tracing their dears and nears at several places along the rivulet in a hope that they will be able trace them as the army and police have suspended the search for the remaining 14 bodies belong to these 14 families.
Deepati Uppal , SDM Nowshera when contacted by The Early Times said that the remaining bodies are not traceable and after 2 months, as per legal formalities, they will be declared dead.
She added that some of the families are now approaching the authorities with missing reports and soon all the legal formalities will be completed in favor of missing persons.
Ex serviceman Madan Singh and Rajinder Singh , Sarapnch of Rajpur said that the mishap could have been averted had the GREF authorities repaired the pothole on the culvert. Front tyre on driver's side struck in the pothole as the driver couldn't see it as the culvert was covered with about 1 feet flood waters and the bus turn turtle in the floods rivulet and submerged in it before any help could be provided to the passengers.
Madan Singh , an ex-serviceman who managed to swim out of flash floods lost his wife Rita Kour and two children namely Gurvinder Singh and Jasvinder Kour along with two brothers, their wives and 5 children.
Bhagat Singh father of groom Sukhvinder Singh lost about 38 relatives in this mishap and is still in shock. His cousin brother Bahadur Singh ,a serving soldier who came to join the marriage lost his wife Manmeet Kour, son Hartpreet and daughter Rupinder Kour.
Swaran Singh has also lost his wife Ranveer Kour , daughter Gurleen and Tania (45). Another Jagjot Singh who lost wife Surinder Kour and two sons Tanveer and Gagandeep is also in shock.
Rajinder Singh Sarpanch said that the whole area is in a state of shock and people of adjoiing areas are extending their help to the victim families.
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar has also sent relief for the families and state government has also distributed cheques worth Rs 1.50 lacs each to the kin of the deceased.
"But those who have suffered irreparable loss can't forget the tragedy and we can only express our heartfelt condolence and pray to God to grant eternal peace in heaven to the departed souls" said Rajinder Singh.
He added that Deputy Commissioner Jatender Singh has forwarded the bank accounts details of the kins of the deceased to Union Government so that the relief of Rs 2 lacs announced by the Prime Minister may be transferred in their accounts. Those who managed to swim safe have been identified as Hakumat Singh, Satnam Kour, Navjot Singh,Madan Singh an ex-serviceman, Bakhtor Singh and Manjeet Singh. Those who are still missing and their bodies were not recovered yet have been identified as Amrit Kour w/o Rattan Singh, Sumit Kour w/o Kirpal Singh, Charan Kour w/o Hukam Singh, Balwinder Kour w/o Angat Singh, Amrit Pal s/o Deedar singh, Raghvinder Kour w/o Nissan Singh, Shaib Singh s/o Anter Singh , Jasbir Kour w/o Manmohan Singh, Jasvinder Kour w/o Jarnail Singh, Manmohan Singh s/o Daljeet Singh Surinder Kour w/o Gurmukh Singh, Uttam Kour w/o Hakam Singh and Rupinder Kour d/o Bhadur Singh.Most among killed in the mishap were mother-son and mother -daughter duos. 9 years old Parminder Singh and 7 years old Amanjot Kour have lost their parents Manmohan Singh (still untraced) and Surinder Kour.
Similarly 11 years old Trabjot Kour and Param Jeet Singh become orphan as their father Nirmal Singh and mother Dalbir Kour were also killed in the mishap. Many children have lost either their father or mother. 11 years old Jagbir Singh have lost his parents Hakim Singh and Uttam Kour and sister Amrit Kour w/o Rattan Singh who has lost his daughter and son also. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
