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| Khundroo not an issue to score political points: Azad | | |
Srinagar, August 21- Describing Khundroo ammunition depot incident as a human tragedy, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today warned against drawing political mileage out of it and called for invoking the spirit of post-2005 earthquake when government, opposition and people at large joined hands to meet the calamity.
Azad was replying a discussion on Khundroo in the Legislative Council here today.
The Chief Minister said that the loss of life and property suffered by villagers in and around Khundroo should not be made an issue to score points or take political advantage. He appealed both ruling and opposition parties to join hands in reaching out to the affected population in their hour of need. He said it was not an issue of any specific political party but a shared concern of all in the state and the country as a whole. He called for reviving the spirit that dominated the state in the aftermath of October 8, 2005 earthquake when political differences were buried and people and parties took lead over one another in helping out the victims. A similar response is required in this case also, he added.
The Chief Minister dismissed alleged laxity on part of the Government in responding to the challenge and gave graphic details of measures taken to deal with the situation immediately after the news of the incident broke. He said the district administration along with local MLA who is also a minister were at the site in less than two hours. He recalled that on the fateful day he was in Delhi and remained in constant touch with the situation. He said he immediately deputed two senior ministers, Abdul Aziz Zargar and Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed along with Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police who took charge of the situation and monitored evacuation and temporary rehabilitation of the affected population. He said the immediate concern of the government was to get people out of the affected villages as live ammunition had flown into the nearby habitations and posed danger to human life.
Azad said that next day when he returned from Delhi, he immediately undertook aerial inspection of the villages as going into the area was not possible. He said after the inspection a high level meeting of senior officers of civil administration, army, paramilitary forces and police was held at Khanabal to chalk out strategy for relief and rescue operations. He said the affected population was advised through loudspeakers and print and electronic media not to return to their homes or pay any heed to rumours. He said immediate steps were taken to guard through army and police contingents the property left behind by the evacuated villagers. He said temporary rehabilitation camps were set up at Achhabal, Mattan and Shangus.
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