 S TAHIR-UL HAQ
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: On the occasion of Army Day today, Army did a tremendous job and rescued a pregnant lady in Dardpora-Singhpora of Baramulla district after which the Prime Minster, Narendra Modi also apprised and retweeted, “our Army is known for its valour and professionalism, while as dozens of villages are still cut off from their district headquarters.
Commanding Officer (CO) of 52 Rashtria Rifles (RR), Col Arora told early times that, they received a call from some locals that a pregnant lady is in need of emergency hospitalization as the area has received 5 feet of snow and for 4 hours over 100 army persons and 30 civilians walked with her on stretcher through heavy snow.
“Our men cleared snow from road with their hands in the same area, and then after she was treated by army doctor on spot and provided first aid and army ambulance, the army officer said.
He said after providing a bit of help a pregnant lady namely Shameema Begum W/O Riyaz Ahmad Mir R/O Dardpora village was shifted to district hospital Baramulla where she delivered an alive baby, now both mother and baby are feeling well.
However, soon after the video vent viral on social networking sites, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi mentioned in his tweet and said that, our Army is known for its valour and professionalism,” he wrote.
PM also wrote that, “It is also respected for its humanitarian spirit. Whenever people have needed help, our Army has risen to the occasion and done everything possible!”
He went to write that he was “proud of our Army” and that he prayed “for the good health of Shamima and her child”.
Meanwhile beyond of this exemplary help, most of the far flung areas in Kashmir valley including Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara and Ganderbal are still disconnected from their district headquarters and people are facing huge inconvenience with each passing day.
Irshad Ahmad from Arath village of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district telephoned early times and said that, the lanes and by lanes of some officer’s and politicians were cleared by the concerned department of mechanical and R&B, while as the rural areas were left out deliberately.
“We requested before the concerned departments to clear the roads in Budgam district, but to our surprise the roads leading to the colonies of influential people were cleared only and we have been left on the mercy of God, alleges a local resident of Budgam district, adding Khan Sahib, Yousmarg, Pakherpora, Narbal, Magam, Toasmaidan, Doudpathri, Shougpora, Beerwah, Chewa, Rathsun and other areas are still disconnected from their district headquarters.
Many villages in Ganderbal district are also cut off from the district headquater, Nasir Jan from the same area said that, from past two days they are reeling in darkness and the authorities of PDD is least bothered to restore the electricity, the water pipes have also got freezed and with the result they are compelled to take the contaminated water from the nullahs.
There are also reports of non clearance of snow from roads in various villages of Baramulla district including Nilsar, Chandoosa, Kachew Muqam, Dudran, Darwah, Khargam, Kalantra, Sultanpora Kandi, Bandi Kawahar and other adjoining areas.
Fayaz Ahmad from Sultanpora Kandi said that, Roads and Building (R&B) department is busy in drawing the bills only, they were supposed to clear the roads by almost 50-60 feet from both the sides but that was hardly seen anywhere, even though only 20’ on national highway was cleared and with the result people faces hardships like anything.
Mir Waseem from Kupwara district said that mechanical department has failed to clear the snow from roads, while as private JCBs were pressed in service to clear the roads.
Roads to many villages are still closed and people can’t move outside of their houses, as the rural areas in this border district have almost received 6-7 feet of snow, said Waseem.
Dozens of villages in Bandipora district also are still disconnected with rest of the country, and people have appealed the authorities to clear the snow from rural roads.
However need of the hour is that government should understand the miserable conditions of common masses that are living in the far flung areas of Kashmir and press their men and machinery into service, so that they will take a sigh of relief from this unexpected snow that created problems from past three days. |
