M A I N   N E W S

Teetwal-Nauseri link along LoC opens

Teetwal (LoC), November 12
Shaking hands firmly on a bailey bridge, that fleetingly become a bone of contention between the two countries, Indian and Pakistani army officials today opened the third border meeting point along the LoC to ferry relief material across till “all the quake-hit are rehabilitated”.

“The exchange of quake relief material for the survivors will continue indefinitely ...it will continue till all the people are rehabilitated,” Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Abdul Majid Khanday told reporters here.

But, even while villagers from Teetwal and Nauseri on either side of Kishenganga river cheered them on, the Army men refused to cross the causeway unlike the opening of Kaman Post on November 9 when officials from both sides crossed over into each other’s territory for handing over relief material.

The relief material was carried by porters on foot across the bridge.

The process began as scheduled at 1130 am with Lt Imran Grom from the Pakistani side, who supervised laying of the bridge, crossed it and tested its durability.

Colonel Shahid of Five Punjab (Pakistan) and Commanding Officer of 12 Kumaon J Nair shook hands, standing in the middle of the bridge amid loud cheers from those witnessing the opening of the relief point.

Indian Army officials were seen requesting their counterparts to come to this side and take the relief. However, they refused.

Nearly 500 bags containing blankets, rice, sugar, milk, match boxes and salt with the message ‘Relief for better tomorrow’ inscribed on them were sent to PoK.

The relief material from across the LoC comprised 50 water coolers, 125 blankets and medicines.

The opening of the Teetwal-Nauseri point is the third in the series of relief points opened by the two countries to exchange relief material. The bridge, earlier scheduled to be opened on November 7 and November 20, was postponed twice.

Armies on either sides wanted to build the bailey bridge over the Kishenganga to carry out joint relief operations in the quake-affected areas.

Finally, after a meeting between officials of both sides, it was decided that Pakistan would lay the 175 metre-long foot-suspension bridge. — PTI