J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Army ready to take ‘risk’ by dipping into strategic oil reserves
Provision of petroleum products in Kashmir valley
Srinagar, February 23
While the Army has already released a large quantity of petroleum products to provide succour to people in the Kashmir valley, who are cut-off from the world due to land routes being blocked by unprecedented snowfall, it will take a “risk” by dipping further into its strategic oil reserves.

Stranded passengers melt snow to quench thirst
Ramban, February 23
With taps having run dry since the past fortnight due to avalanches and landslides, the stranded passengers and residents of several villages around here are meeting their requirements of water by melting snow.

Death toll rises to 252 in avalanche-hit J&K
Jammu, February 23
With rescue operations entering the third day, the death toll has gone up to 252 and 50 reported still missing while 446 were rescued from the avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir, where the Jammu-Srinagar highway is blocked for 6th day today.

J&K House adjourned over ‘snow deaths’
Jammu, February 23
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned today amidst pandemonium as the Opposition National Conference members demanded discussion on the havoc caused by snow and avalanches in various parts of the state.

Army ready to take ‘risk’ by dipping into strategic oil reserves
Provision of petroleum products in Kashmir valley
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

NH 1A to open in seven days The Army expects the National Highway 1A, the lifeline to Jammu and Kashmir, to be operational in seven days, assuming the weather remains clear. Men as well as machines are engaged in clearing snow, while aircraft and helicopters are ferrying in emergency supplies and relief material. About 100 kg of explosives is being released to the Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment (SASE) to trigger artificial avalanches for clearing snow from dangerous areas.

Srinagar, February 23
While the Army has already released a large quantity of petroleum products to provide succour to people in the Kashmir valley, who are cut-off from the world due to land routes being blocked by unprecedented snowfall, it will take a “risk” by dipping further into its strategic oil reserves.

“We will be releasing more petroleum products to help the local population,” Chief of the Army Staff, General J.J. Singh, said here today. “We would be taking a certain amount of security risk by doing so,” he added. He was briefing the Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, and Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, in the presence of the media and other officials about the Army’s ongoing relief efforts in the state.

The Army has so far released about 1 lakh litres each of diesel and kerosene, besides about 75,000 litres of petrol to cater to urgent demands of the local population. The Army maintains strategic reserves of petroleum products, rations and other war stores in Kashmir, which can sustain forces deployed there for several months.

The Army chief said that snow scooters from other sectors as well as from the Army Headquarters Reserve in Delhi would be deployed for relief and rescue operations in snow-bound areas. Snow tents would also be provided to villagers who had lost their homes due to avalanches.

He said instructors and mountaineering experts from the High Altitude Warfare School and other mountaineering institutes would also be used to form rescue teams, as they would be better suited for the task of accessing difficult areas. Besides, radio detachments would be set up in remote areas to maintain a communication network. Additional doctors and paramedical staff from the Northern Command as well as the Western Command would also be made available.

Terming his force to be a “people’s army”, General J.J. Singh said the Army had moved in for rescue operations on humanitarian grounds immediately without waiting for formal orders from the Defence Ministry. He said five militants trapped in the snow had laid down arms before Army personnel engaged in rescue efforts. They were provided medical aid. He said this was not the first instance of its kind, and the Army would not harm militants who surrender and shun the path of violence.

The Defence Minister, said that ex gratia payment would be released to the next of kin of those killed due to avalanches and bad weather. He, however, did not disclose the amount.

This season witnessed the heaviest snowfall in 33 years, blocking the National Highway 1-A and cutting off arterial routes within the state. According to Army commanders, large tracts along the Line of Control (LoC) on either side are snow-bound.

A few posts along the LoC have as much as 60 feet of residual snow, while there is 30-40 feet residual snow around a large number of posts. The road beyond Wuzar is buried under 20 feet of snow, while the Anantnag—Baramullah road has 5 feet of snow. Srinagar airfield itself had over 3 feet of snow.

So far, 173 people have died due to avalanches. This includes 35 personnel from the Army and paramilitary forces and other uniformed organisations. This figure, officers said, is likely to go up.

Stranded passengers melt snow to quench thirst
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Ramban, February 23
With taps having run dry since the past fortnight due to avalanches and landslides, the stranded passengers and residents of several villages around here are meeting their requirements of water by melting snow.

There is no electricity and drinking water supply for the past many days and people have almost exhausted their cooking gas cylinders.

With no hope of the Jammu — Srinagar highway reopening before next week, the people were worried that it would add to their miseries. A number of tourists were among those stranded on the highway.

Protests against failure of the authorities have started coming from the stranded passengers who raised slogans against the government today.

The shooting stones coming from uphill at kilometre 168 (Panthal) near here has become a problematic point and no one dares to cross the place because of fear of sure death in case hit by the boulders. The highway was closed at several other places, including Nashri Nullah. The authorities were hopeful to clear the road up to Ramban within day or two, but it might take a couple of days to put the road through to Srinagar as there was about 70 ft of snow around the Jawahar Tunnel.

Mr Bhushan Sadhotra, a resident of Maitra village on the banks of Chenab near here, was critical of the authorities having failed to rise to the occasion and provide succour to the affected people.

He said they managed to purchase vegetables from a truck driver whose vehicle was stranded on the road. Driver of a tanker sold the kerosene that he was carrying to the valley.

A group of 55 students, including 20 girls, who were returning from Bhopal after participating in water sports, are stranded here for the past six days.

One of the stranded sportsmen, Mohammad Altaf, said first they were held up at Jammu because of closure of the road, but a driver of the state road transport corporation misled them by saying that they could board the bus as the highway to Srinagar had reopened. However, they were now stranded here and have exhausted the money they had. They have been given place in the community hall here for staying.

Altaf complained that the tehsildar has told them that the authorities would no more provide rations to them and they have hardly any money to purchase foodstuffs. He pointed out that he had himself seen the local store of the Food and Supplies Department full with rations.

He said the authorities should make arrangements to airlift them.

Several stranded persons have been accommodated in the shelter shed at Banihal.

Savitri Devi complained that the hospital in the area was non-functional for the past few days and the sick people have to go to a private doctor whom they have to pay consultation fee.

Many areas of the Doda district, in which this area falls, are inaccessible and the officials have yet to reach there to assess the actual loss of life and property. Several houses were buried under deep snow and avalanches.

Manohar Lal, a resident of the Ramsoo area, lamented that although there was widespread damage in the Doda district, but the attention of the Centre and the state government was focussed only towards the Kashmir valley.

He said all communication within the district has been lost because of snapping of telephone lines.

The exact number of casualties was not known, but more than 25 bodies have so far been extricated in the Banihal area. More than 100 families have been rendered houseless as their houses were completely damaged due to avalanches. Several cattle heads have also perished.

The road opening was getting hampered as many machines of the Border Roads Organisation were buried under snow.

Death toll rises to 252 in avalanche-hit J&K

Jammu, February 23
With rescue operations entering the third day, the death toll has gone up to 252 and 50 reported still missing while 446 were rescued from the avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir, where the Jammu-Srinagar highway is blocked for 6th day today.

Of the total dead, 196 people perished in Kashmir and 56 in Jammu division and of the 446 rescued, 373 were saved in Kashmir and 73 in Jammu till today, police officials said.

“As many as 164 persons were killed and their bodies have been recovered and 370 rescued from massive avalanches-hit Nagni, Panznar and Waltingo villages, 10 km north-west of Qazigund in Anantnag district,” the officials said.

Similarly, 14 were killed in Halsidan, 11 in Rangkund, two in Pakerpora, three in Chowgund and one in Reshi Pora in rest of south Kashmir, they said.

Rescue operation by the security forces have been intensified and over 23 are still missing in these areas, they said.

In Jammu division, 56 persons have been killed and 73 rescued from the avalanche-hit areas in Poonch and Doda districts till this afternoon, they said.

They said 22 were missing, while 229 houses had been damaged in the division. Besides one temple and a mosque were also damaged in the avalanches.

Over 305 security personnel of the ITBP, the IRP and the police, holed up in Jawahar Tunnel for the past 16 days, were delivered ready-to-eat food packets this morning, they said.

The biggest peace-time day-night rescue and relief operation of the IAF continued for third day today amid ferrying of over 500 stranded people and airlifting 30 tonnes of essential supplies in the Kashmir valley, which is cut off from the rest of the country for 6th day today.

The choppers also dropped food packets at 13 different places in Surankote, Loran Mandi, Bhudal, Nawapanchi, Pajarai, Madwa, Paddar, Banihal, Kishtwar and some areas in Udhahmpur and Kathua districts this morning, they said.

Night operation continued to carry essential supplies to the Kashmir valley and the night operation would continue today also, Udhampur-based Station Commander, Group Captain, Manavandera Singh said.

Till now a total of 25,700 troops and civilians were ferried from snow-hit areas to safer places, he said.

The IAF has pressed into services nine choppers, three il-76s and four AN-32s into day-night operations to carry and airlift troops, drop supplies in Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu, he said.

The Ramban-Jammu stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar highway has been cleared and was being used for the emergency services, DIG, Traffic, Niyaz Mehmood said. — PTI

J&K House adjourned over ‘snow deaths’
Our Correspondent

Jammu, February 23
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned today amidst pandemonium as the Opposition National Conference members demanded discussion on the havoc caused by snow and avalanches in various parts of the state.

When the House met here this morning, all members of the National Conference and one member of the CPM, Mr M.Y. Tarigami, demanded adjournment of the routine business and a detailed discussion on the natural calamities.

When the speaker, Mr Tara Chand, rejected the motion seeking adjournment of the business listed for the day, the NC members started shouting slogans against the government. When the repeated pleas of the Speaker failed to restore order, he ordered the adjournment of the House for half an hour.

And the moment the House met again, Mr Tara Chand informed the agitated members that an hour-long discussion on the issue would be allowed tomorrow. This further infuriated the NC members who walked to the well of the House shouting slogans against the government. As the NC members refused to resume their seats, the Speaker announced the adjournment of the House for a day.

Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, leader of the Opposition, later told newsmen in the lobby that they had demanded adjournment of the business listed for the day and not for the House.

The NC members and other senior party leaders later met the Governor, Mr S.K. Sinha, and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention in mitigating the tribulations of the people.