DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 (PAGE 5) 2000 airlifted to Jammu in biggest evacuation by IAF Airlifted people term flash flood as nightmare, narrate ordeal with tearful eyes Ajay Raina floods", they said, adding that the never thought we will be rescued", State Government and Police she said, adding that "we are safe is JAMMU, Sept 13: The people Department should also keep like a dream come true for me and who were rescued from the inun- check on such incidents along with my family members". dated areas of Srinagar and airlift- ongoing rescue operation. "We remained in water-logged ed to Jammu by Indian Air Force The family members, who are house for around two days and that Provincial President, NC Devender Singh Rana during visit to flood hit areas of Rajouri- (IAF) have termed the flash flood waiting outside Technical Airport too without food and water. We Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla interacting with the Poonch on Saturday. as 'nightmare'. However, during at Jammu for the past around one were rescued by Army and other the ongoing 'Operation Rahat', Air week, also charged the State central forces personnel. I have no stranded people at Srinagar Airport on Saturday. Force carried out biggest ever res- Government for not rescuing the words to say them thanks", Mamta cue operation today by airlifting people on war footing. added. Time to shun politics, help around 2000 people to Jammu "The trapped people are with- Aqib Choudhary of Rajouri, Bhalla reviews rescue, relief from Srinagar and thousand others out warm clothes and blankets and who had gone to attend counseling for AICTE at SP College Srinagar, operation at Srinagar flood victims: Rana while speaking said that he along with his friends got struck in a Excelsior Correspondent other required faclities for all the Excelsior Correspondent and took stock of the relief operations round the clock. He hotel at Tulsi Bagh during the flood hit families. measures taken to provide said the unprecedented calamity tragedy. SRINAGAR, Sept 13: Mr. Bhalla called upon the peo- POONCH, Sept 13: Saying respite to the sufferers. He has caused havoc across the Minister for Housing, Horticulture, that entire Jammu and Kashmir "Central forces including ple to help the Government in expressed grief and anguish over state, especially in the Kashmir jawans of Central Reserve Police Culture, Youth Services and relief operation. He enquired about shared the grief and miseries of Sports, Raman Bhalla today said loss of life and damage to prop- valley and the situation demands Force (CRPF) rescued us and were the prevailing situation at different flood-sufferers across the state, that large number of people erty, especially residential hous- extra efforts to rehabilitate the later taken to Technical Airport, villages of Kashmir valley and Provincial President National trapped in the floods were rescued es, standing crops and cattle. He flood hit people. Srinagar from where we reach assured of all required help by the Conference Devender Singh by Army, SDRF, NDRF, police etc lauded the efforts of multiple "In view of ensuing winter, Jammu through aircraft of IAF". administration. Rana on Saturday made a fervent agencies like civil administra- the rehabilitation assumes Meanwhile, Air Officer from flood hit areas of Kashmir valley to safer place. Regarding restoration of dam- appeal to people to contribute in tion, Army, Indian Air Force, greater significance", Mr Rana Commanding (AOC) Prashant Ek aged public infrastructure includ- whatever way they can to mini- Nath Patange while talking to This was stated by the Minister National Disaster Response said and hoped that the Centre while interacting with the stranded ing road connectivity, drinking mize the difficulties of those in Force, police and security forces would come forward in a big Excelsior said that during the water supply, power, the Minister ongoing 'Operation Megh Rahat', people at Srinagar Airport here distress. for timely rescue of the people in way to provide necessary assis- today. asked the concerned officers to "The catastrophe befallen "IAF carried out biggest ever res- ensure that all works are done on Rajouri-Poonch belts. He said tance to the state for rebuilding cue operation today by airlifting Mr. Bhalla expressed sympa- over the state calls for political despite massive efforts, most of infrastructure, help people to thies with the affected families and priority so that damages are around 2000 flood affected people restricted to the minimum and peo- parties to shun politics and get the people were still marooned raise their dwelling units and to Jammu from Srinagar in around issued directions to the officers to engaged in relief and rescue in the Kashmir Valley. put in place the utility services. immediately undertake rescue ple do not suffer due to non avail- 45 sorties. 75 tonnes of relief mate- ability of required men and measures", Mr Rana said while "The people of entire state The Provincial President said rial was distributed among masses operations so that the loss of life interacting with the victims of are concerned about their wel- that National Conference work- could be minimized. machinery. residing in flood hit areas of Later, various stranded families natural calamity during his fare and pray for their immediate ers have got engaged in helping Jammu province". The Minister directed the of Jammu met the Minister and extensive tour of Poonch and An old woman, who was trapped in flood affected area, at He added that apart from this, Revenue Officers for carrying out evacuation", Mr Rana said, the people in distress at the grass requested him for provided air Jammu Technical Airport. -Excelsior/Rakesh hundreds of people were also air- assessment of losses to ensure Rajouri districts. adding that Chief Minister Omar roots level in the affected areas. services for Jammu. The Minister lifted to other locations including immediate relief to the affected He, along with MLA Aijaz Abdullah has been personally He made a particular mention of asked the district administration to different locations including were forced to bear harsh cold Chandigarh and New Delhi, but people. He asked the district Jan went round most hit areas monitoring the relief and rescue the people killed due to land- and Army to provide air services to Chandigarh and New Delhi till late weather during evening and late exact figures could not be ascer- administration to provide medi- slides and flash floods and hoped stranded families. night. night hours. No efforts are being tained. cines, tents, tarpals, ration and the ex-gratia to be released in While narrating their ordeal made by the State Government to DB orders auction of Dutta favour of their kin on immediate Air Force has inducted C-130J and the problems being faced by evacuate them", they stated. Super Hercules Transport Aircraft basis. them during this flash flood in NDRF deploys ‘boat hospitals’ While interacting with to airlift the people from Srinagar While lauding the Srinagar, some of the rescued peo- SRINAGAR, Sept 13: cine, clothes, tents and some Finance Pvt Ltd property Excelsior after elevating from IAF to Jammu and to carry relief mate- Governmental efforts in provid- ple broke down into tears. ready-to-eat meals. We are doing Aircraft at Technical Airport rial to Srinagar during this After undertaking rescue oper- Excelsior Correspondent dance with rules after giving due ing necessary assistance to the They said that it was the worst Jammu, a teacher in the Education that now,” said Singh. He is per- publicity to the proposed auction experience of their life, which they 'Operation Megh Rahat', he said, ation in the flood-ravaged Jammu sonally manning the make-shift JAMMU, Sept 13: In the flood hit people, Mr Rana urged Department said "I along with my adding that C-130J is ferrying and Kashmir, the National so that properties fetch true market had never imagined in their wife and children remained NDRF control room established in much publicized Public Interest the Government for carrying out between Jammu-Srinagar five Disaster Response Force (NDRF) value. survey to assess the losses so dreams. The airlifted people trapped in my house at Indira the technical area of the airport Litigation (PIL) regarding cheat- "An offer received shall be praised Army and Air Force for times a day as it has large space to is now focusing on relief opera- ing of people to the tune of Rs 50 that the affected people are com- Nagar, Srinagar, but no one came tions and had deployed ‘boat hos- here. accepted only after approval of evacuating the flood affected peo- to our rescue for around four days. carry out people and relief material. The DG said close to 40 crore by Dutta Finance Pvt Ltd Division Bench and Receiver shall pensated adequately. ple from inundated areas of Patange added that, IAF is also pitals’ in water logged areas to and others, Division Bench of Earlier, Mr Aijaz Jan and "After four days, I along with provide health care facilities to the NDRF boats have also suffered be free to seek assistance of Srinagar. family including two children were using C-17 Globemaster III State High Court comprising other senior party leaders gave stranded people. “extensive damages” as they had authorities concerned including Talking about the rescue oper- rescued by locals, who also offered Aircraft during this 'Operation to be manoeuvred in the narrow Justice Hasnain Massodi and the vivid account of catastrophe “We have changed our role. police to take over the properties ation going on in Srinagar, some of us meal for one time. Covering a Rahat' for mass evacuation of peo- by-lanes of Kashmir valley. Justice Tashi Rabstan today direct- of finance company", the order that stuck the twin districts last the people said that despite extend- ple from Srinagar to Jammu. For the last one week we were ed Receiver to auction the proper- distance of over 20 to 25 kilometers undertaking rescue operations but “About 40 boats have been said. week and called for immediate ing help to trapped people in inun- by foot, we reached Technical When asked about wastage of rendered non-functional. We are ty in accordance with rules. However, with regard to the relief to be provided to the suf- dated areas of Srinagar, the locals large quantity of cooked food, he now we have begun doing relief After hearing Senior Advocate Airport Srinagar and from there we left with about 100 boats now but properties mentioned in two appli- fering people. They said that engaged in rescue operation are said "We were restricted to take works. We have converted a num- SS Lehar with Advocate were airlifted to Jammu", he added. ber of our existing boats to act as that is not a cause of worry as the cations, the order shall be passed landslides and flash floods have minting money. Apart from this, Daughter of a shoe polishing cooked food from today onwards. Meharban Singh for the petition- floating hospitals or you can call it Army has dropped in a number of after the parties are heard in the locals also forced the people to sit man hailing from Rajasthan, He requested the people and the ers whereas Senior Advocate KS caused colossal damages in a ‘boat hospital’,” NDRF Director its boats too,” he said. matter, the DB said. in their trapped places till they res- Mamta, who was struck at Soura, donors to send packed food apart Johal with Advocate Arash K remote areas of the two districts. General (DG) O P Singh said. The DG said a number of cued their near and dear ones. Srinagar along with her other fam- from cooked food and also con- Johal, Senior Advocate PN Raina Singh, who has been camping areas, still inundated in flood "Pick and Choose policy is ily members while narrating her with Advocate JA Hamal for the tributed towards Prime Minister in the J&K summer capital for last waters, pose a challenge to his 22 Over 300 flood survivors reach going on in Srinagar during rescue ordeal, broke down into tears. respondents, DB appointed Relief Fund and Chief Minister's one week, said a team of doctors teams comprising 50 personnel operation as locals are rescuing "After watching such a tragedy I Relief Fund". Harbans Lal, former District and their near ones on priority basis. No and paramedics had been each. Sessions Judge as Receiver of the Kishtwar via Sinthan road doubt they (locals) are also rescu- Khanna chairs meeting, deployed on these boats and they Areas like Lal Chowk, property belonging to the finance ing others, but after rescuing their were now visiting those areas Jawahar Nagar, Tulsi Bagh, Dal company and directed him for Excelsior Correspondent Railway Station free of cost. The relatives or near ones. If locals are dispatches relief material where people are stuck and need Gate, Indira Nagar and Karan auction of property in accordance state wise list of the survivors, working to rescue people, then they immediate health care. An NDRF Nagar are still logged with high KISHTWAR, Sept 13: With with rules. dully prepared and signed for should do this job on equality basis Excelsior Correspondent State Secretaries Kavinder Gupta team from Arakkonam in Tamil water, he said, adding water has The Division Bench directed the opening of Kishtwar - Sinthan and Rajiv Jasrotia, National Co- receded from many areas of the their convenience, was also sent not on caste or religion basis", the JAMMU, Sept 13: Member Nadu has been deployed for this Receiver to take over the proper- - Anantnag highway hundreds of to Udhampur railway station. Convenor Kashmir Cell Chander special task. city and adjoining areas. Kashmir flood survivors have flood affected victims stated. of Parliament & J&K BJP ties, prepare an inventory and take The DDC Kishtwar has con- "Due to lack of proper equip- Mohan Sharma, Jammu West As the current situation enters “That is big relief that water been rescued and brought here to Prabhari Avinash Rai Khanna, District General Secretaries steps for their auction in accor- stituted a committee (Task Force) ments, the Army, Air Force and into the ninth or the tenth day, levels have gone down,” he said. take up onward journey. alongwith BJP Election Arvind Gupta and Surinder headed by ADDC to ensure other Central Forces are unable to Campaign Committee Chairman Singh said, it is important to con- Singh said the force, working Wattal reviews condition of These people were stranded in Choudhary, Distt. Press Secretary centrate on providing health facili- for mitigating the disaster from Kashmir following the massive smooth rescue and safe travel of rescue people from interior areas, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Kavinder Er. Ashwani Khosla. stranded persons/passengers on who are without water and food for Gupta, Rajiv Jasrotia, Committee ties to the people, whether in their day one, had till now rescued close lanes, drains in Gujjar Nagar floods and were rescued with the Later, at party headquarters, marooned homes or relief camps. to 47,000 people and was continu- coordinated efforts of the dis- Kishtwar- Sinthan road. the past around one week. Locals Secretary Sat Sharma (C.A) and BJP Mahila Morcha State Excelsior Correspondent involved in rescue operation took “We have been able to give out ously helping the Army and the trict administration under the Medical teams have been other leaders, during his one day President Priya Sethi and her the benefit of the same and use to 34 tons of relief material and food IAF to undertake more such mis- direct supervision of Deputy deputed at Potato Farm Sinthan, whirlwind visit to Jammu held morcha office bearers handed JAMMU, Sept 13: charge amount in lieu to rescue the in the affected areas. We are sions. Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Commissioner Kishtwar SHC Chingam, Sinthan top and at meeting with the party activists over a huge quantity of food trapped people", they stated. encountering a number of The NDRF, he said, has also Corporation (JMC), Kiran Wattal Mohammad Jared Khan and SSP PHC Chatroo, which are working regarding the relief operations items to Avinash Rai Khanna for They strongly condemned the instances where people do not begun operating five medical cen- today visited lower Gujjar Nagar Sanjay Kotwal. round the clock for meeting any and measures as to how to collect further transportation and distri- casual approach of the State tres in various parts of the city area to check the lanes and drains Around three hundred flood emergency as the traffic and sup- more and more relief material bution among the needy people. want to be evacuated but they just Government for not keep check here. (PTI) affected due to floods and rains. survivors, mostly the labourers and donations from the general want rations, milk, water, medi- plies for the Valley have been during the on going rescue opera- Avinash Rai Khanna, Dr. While checking the JMC belonging to West Bengal, public for the flood affected pop- diverted via Sinthan due t6o clo- tion in the inundated areas of Nirmal Singh alongwith a large 60,000 metric ton rice being airlifted from Amritsar Commissioner, informed the local Jharkhand, UP, MP, Bihar, sure of the Jammu-Srinagar, ulation of the State. number of party activists also Srinagar by locals and for giving On his arrival, Avinash Rai inhabitants that about 90% of work Utrrakhand, Odissa, including 31 national highway. visited some spots in Jammu dis- being undertaken by JMC is com- from Nepal, were stranded in full authorities to them to 'loot' the Khanna chaired this meeting in Kathua Admn sends more relief Dozens of people from vari- people during this tragedy. trict where relief material is pleted and remaining 10% will be Srinagar since massive floods hit Rehari colony area of Jammu city being collected from the people. the city on the intervening night ous parts of Chenab Valley were "Where some of the locals are and also flagged off a truck with completed shortly. also rescued and led through this The BJP MP also received two During the tour the locals of of 5th & 6th September. They charging amount to rescue the peo- 500 blankets which were donated to flood affected areas route. The district administration ple through bouts, some of them mini trucks containing relief items Gujjar Nagar putforth their were brought to Kishtwar by a by Sunil Mahajan, a businessman Excelsior Correspondent State through Kathua administra- has deputed officers at various are busy in thefts in the house and also medicines being donat- from the staff of Nagbani school. demands regarding non-function- team of officers deputed especial- tion. places so that the people coming abandoned by the people during ed by R.C. Ganjoo in presence of While boosting the morale of ing of street lights. After assess- ly for the purpose to the Valley. KATHUA, Sept 13: District FCI is providing 60,000 metric on foot could be provided imme- the party activists for their efforts ment the Commissioner directed The survivors were accom- in collecting food items and Administration Kathua has dis- tonnes of rice for flood affected modated at GHSS Kishtwar and diate medical help and transporta- the Executive Engineer to immedi- CS takes stock of rescue, relief other material, Avinash Rai patched more relief material to areas of State and in this regard the provided all the basic amenities ately repair all the damaged street tion facility. Khanna said that the unprece- flood affected areas of Kashmir DC and ADC Kathua held meet- lights. like food, water shelter etc. ADC A district control room valley, Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi ings with FCI and Indian Air Kishtwar Mohammad Hanief operations in Baramulla, Bandipora dented rains and the flash floods The Commissioner also dis- (Helpline:_01995260301) is have played havoc with the lives districts. Force authorities at Amritsar for Malik, Tehsildar Phulail Singh, Excelsior Correspondent NS bridge to Uri is open for light tributed the food bags and neces- round the clock operational for of the victims in the State and Additional Deputy immediate transportation of ration sary utensils collected by people of DySP Nazir Ganai and Major queries and other kinds of help traffic. He said regular advisories Commissioner, Prasanna tomorrow. Avdesh personally attended to the SRINAGAR, Sept 13: Chief are being issued on local channels war footing work of rescue, Gujjar Nagar, to flood affected for the general public. relief and rehabilitation is needed Ramaswami and Assistant Meanwhile, 1500 blankets inhabitants of the area. flood victims and ensured food Secretary, Iqbal Khandey today to keep the people informed on the Commissioner, Anshul Garg are The DDC Kishtwar and ASP conducted an extensive tour of to be undertaken. He said that have been dispatched for various Later, on the directions of and accommodation to all. latest flood situation. camping at Amritsar for dispatch- Kishtwar are closely monitoring Baramulla and Bandipora districts while people across the country flood affected areas provided by Commissioner the Municipal On the directions of DDC Deputy Commissioner, ing the relief material to the State. individuals, industrial, houses, Kishtwar, ARTO Kishtwar the measures to ensure smooth to take stock of rescue and relief are with the people of Jammu Veterinary Officer, Dr Zafar Iqbal Bandipora apprised the Chief On Saturday around 65,000 NGOs and social organizations. immediately arranged the buses transportation of essential operations. and Kashmir in this hour of their along with field staff conducted a Secretary of the relief operations food packets were airlifted to As many as 1000 blankets pro- for the further transportation of Commodities to Kashmir via Taking stock of the flood situ- grief, sorrow and suffering, the drive against polythene carry bags being undertaken in the district. Srinagar with the cooperation of vided by Bari Brahmna Industrial these labourers to Udhampur Sinthan top road. ation besides rescue and relief BJP at the national level along- at Gangyal, Satwari, Nai Basti, He said 53 villages were sub- District Administration Amritsar Association have been dispatched Shastri Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, operations in the twin districts, the with Narendra Modi led merged and about 2 lakh people headed by Ravi Bhagat and the for Pouni and Budhal. Chenab Narwal, Vikram Chowk, Janipur Chief Secretary asserted on coor- Government at the Centre have dinated efforts to ensure restora- have been dislocated. Nearly 71 displayed exemplary drive and Gurudwara Committee. Textile Mill Kathua has also and many other areas. Deputy Commissioner Kathua tion of essential services and pub- relief camps have been established inclination to render all the assis- extended assistance and provided About 10 Kg of polythene also held meetings at Pathankote blankets for flood affected fami- carry bags were seized and fine to lic utilities on fast track basis. He of which district administration is tance to the victims and will not asked the DGs to continue to mon- rest till each of the affected fam- and Amritsar for coordinating dis- lies through DC Kathua. the tune of Rs 3200 was realized providing ration in 69 relief patch of relief material being col- Tehsildar Kathua Jatinder from the defaulters. itor the relief measures and miti- camps. About 40000 people are ily is adequately rehabilitated. gate the sufferings of the affected State Election Campaign lected from various districts. Mishra also distributed ration being looked after in these relief among 380 stranded truck drivers BBIA donates relief material people to some extent. Committee Chairman Nirmal Principal Secretary, Planning camps. He informed that the hos- and Development Department, B along national highway on the Deputy Commissioner, Singh, on this occasion of dis- pitals in Sumbal and Bandipora R Sharma has coordinated with directions of DC Kathua. for flood hit people Baramulla, Farooq Ahmed Lone patching humanitarian aid to Punjab Government and Food A medical camp was also held Excelsior Correspondent apprised the Chief Secretary of the are functional and doctors are also flood victims observed that BJP Corporation of India for various for check up of stranded passen- rescue and relief measures being conducting field visits to monitor has a long history of social serv- relief items to be provided for gers and families along highway. JAMMU, Sept 13: Bari taken in the district. He informed any outbreak of epidemic. He ice and help to the needy at the Brahmana Industries Association Street play ‘Bikhari’ being staged at Shakti Nagar on that about 80 villages were badly apprised about the shortage of time of calamities, natural or has donated relief material for the Saturday. affected in the floods. About 50 diesel, petrol, essential medicines manmade, in times of war or flood affected people of Jammu relief camps have been established and food stock in the district. peace. and Kashmir. wherein 4000 people were provid- One thousand blankets, food Nat Manch stages ‘Bikhari’ ed ration besides blankets. More packets, water bottles, biscuits, than 30 water tankers have been candles, clothes and other essen- Excelsior Correspondent The play, written by Suraj deployed to provide safe drinking tial items were today handed over Narayan and directed by Naveen water and 2500 chlorine tablets JAMMU, Sept 13: Lalded to the Director Industries Jammu Pal, was highly appreciated by and 15000 ORS packets have also for further dispatching the same to Women Welfare Society in asso- the audience. been distributed. different locations of the affected ciation with Nat Manch, staged The actors, who performed As far as the flood situation is areas. play "Bikhari" as the part of in the play, included Naveen concerned, the DC informed that Prominent among the donors ongoing Saturday series of Pal, Suraj Narayan, Arshiya, the water level is stagnant in include Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Nukked stage, at Shakti Nagar Vikas Jasrotia, Nikhil Sharma, Baramulla and Sopore areas. He Kashmir Ispat, Surya Biscuits, Park, Jammu. Sourav Sharma, Amit Sharma, however reported about the short- Saraswati Agro Chemicals, Nav Message is this play was that Sourav Mehra, Rahul Verma and age of petrol, diesel and LPG. Bharat floor Mills, Kissan Milk people should change bad habits Rishav Salgotra. About 1.5 lakh sand bags have Foods, Uflex, Jyoti Laboratories, in society to improve the sys- Santosh Basotra, chief sec- been utilized for flood protection Gulati Oils, Singer India, Hall tem. The play also highlights the retary and Tarun Sharma, and 30 boats have also been Mark Star Industries, Modern menace of corruption and gener- founder & president Nat Manch, pressed into service, he added. Paper, Pepsi, Shree Vaishno Flour al tendency to become rich by were also present on the occa- He apprised that the Gulmarg Mills etc. adopting short means. sion. road is through for traffic while the