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| Pahalgam boat capsize exposes disaster preparedness of Anantnag Admin | | "Rescue teams spotted without equipment, lights" | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, June 1: The Pahalgam Boat capsize incident has yet again exposed the disaster preparedness of Anantnag district as on Friday late evening rescue teams, that were deputed to Yenner Pahalgam for rescuing a local rafter, were spotted without necessary equipment including lighting system.
According to reports, on Friday evening rafting boat carrying five tourists including two foreigners capsized at a rafting point in Mawoora Pahalgam after it was caught in gusty winds. All tourists onboard fell in the Lidder River. Local tourist guide, Rouf Ahmad Dar who is being described as a braveheart managed to save all the tourists but went missing in the aftermath.
The district administration later dispatched multiple rescue teams but they were spotted without equipment and lights as they were supposed to carry out rescue operation during night hours.
An officer was tasked to supervise the rescue operation at Yenner Pahalgam informed Deputy Commissioner Anantnag that rescue teams have arrived but without lights and equipments.
"Sir, I am present at Yanner with your rescue teams. Lights not available, rescue equipment not available. What can they do sir?," officer wrote in official WhatsApp. Snapshots are lying with Early Times.
Fallowing which Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Khalid Jahangir directed his Additional Deputy Commissioner to process the file for procurement of additional equipment.
"ADC (PS)/ ACR/ Disaster management sec. (section) to take note and process the file for procurement of additional equipment without any further delay," he wrote, establishing the fact that disaster preparedness of Anantnag district is not only weak but the district faces shortage of necessary equipment.
Local residents said that had the rescue teams vigorously started rescue operation at appropriate time the life promising rafter could have been saved.
"Dead body of Rouf Ahmad was fished out from river Lidder at Bagwani in Aishmuqam on Saturday morning," Police said.
Dar's body was handed over to his relatives after completion of medical and legal formalities.
In the aftermath, a social media campaign initiated by officers of Police and civil administration compelled tourism department to award the rafter posthumously.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik saluted the bravery of Rouf Ahmad and announced financial assistance of Rs 5 Lakh for his family. He described the deceased as 'real life hero'. |
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