Jammu, September 9
With flashfloods leaving a trail of destruction in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has directed all 22 Deputy Commissioners across the state to assess damage in their respective districts.

“The government has asked all Deputy Commissioners to assess the damage in their respective districts and instructions have been issued to them,” said Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu.

He further said the victims of the Rajouri bus mishap would be treated at par with the flood affected people.

“They would be treated on par with the flood victims and there would be no difference in relief to them,” the Divisional Commissioner said.

Shantmanu had last evening visited the families of Rajouri bus mishap victims.

At least 63 members of a wedding party on board the ill-fated bus had been swept away in a rivulet on September 4.

Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, along with Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Rajesh Kumar, conducted an aerial survey of Poonch and Rajouri districts to assess the extent of damage caused due to flash floods.

Shantmanu also convened a meeting with the Deputy Commissioners of the two districts and took stock of the arrangements being made by the administration for the flood-hit families.

The affected families also met the Divisional Commissioner and apprised him about their problems.

Shantmanu assured the affected families that all possible efforts would be made to mitigate their problems. 

Doda, September 9
Many people from twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar are spending sleepless nights and waiting to know about the welfare of their relatives stuck in various flood-hit parts of the Valley.

Reports said hundreds of students, employees, old and ailing people from Doda and Kishtwar were standard in the Valley.

Mariam Begum, 70, is worried for her daughter, Taslim Kosar, and her in-laws, who are stuck in the Rawalpora area of Kashmir for the past five days after floods submerged their two-storied house.

Mariam Begum said, “I have no information about my daughter and her family who are stuck in Srinagar. We are worried and feeling helpless.”

Another Doda resident, Muzaffar Ali Dev is worried about the welfare of his son, Mehran Ali Dev, who has been stuck somewhere in the Alochi Bagh area of Srinagar.

Several other families are anxious to know about the safety of their relatives stuck in various parts of Kashmir.

People here are urging the government to restore the communication network as early as possible so that they can talk to their relatives stranded in the Valley.

Talking to The Tribune, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Doda, Mohammed Sharif Chouhan said: “We are getting continuous messages from families whose near and dear have got stuck in Kashmir, but we are feeling helpless because of no communication links with the Valley.”

“We are hoping that communication will improve soon so that families get connected with their loved ones again,” the SSP added.

SV Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Doda, said: “We have received over 70 messages from families seeking help from us for their loved ones standard in the Valley floods and we are trying to forward these messages to the officials concerned in Kashmir.”

Impending danger and rescue work

n With the water level in the Wullar lake beginning to swell, there is flood threat in north Kashmir areas of Sopore, Baramulla and Kupwara

n More than 42,000 people have been rescued by security forces so far across J&K

n The Army has deployed nearly 20,000 soldiers, 65 medical teams, 15 special engineering task forces to rescue affected people. A 700-strong NDRF team is also on the ground

n The IAF has pressed in 61 helicopters and aircraft to help out people, while the elite Marcos Naval commandos have been deployed to evacuate stranded to safety

n Hundreds of vehicles and more than 3,000 people stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway

Jalandhar, September 9
As floods have ravaged their houses and they have lost all contacts with their kin back home, nearly 600 Kashmiri students, pursuing various courses at Lovely Professional University, have come together as a community in their troubled times.

Extending support to one another, sharing various news about the ongoing rescue operations that they manage to gather from TV, phone and social media updates, and becoming members of the newly created Facebook groups on Kashmir floods, the tech-savvy students have been doing all what they can to lend a helping hand to one another sitting together on the campus.

Ravleen, student of journalism in the varsity who hails from Baramullah in the Kashmir valley, says, “I have not been able to contact my parents RP Singh and Ranjit Kaur and sister Navreel Kaur since September 5. That day dad had told me that it had been raining since the past one week and their lives are at risk. Since then, I have made hundreds of calls on their cell phones, but in vain. I really do not know where my family is, whether they have been safely shifted or not. I have been endlessly dialing helpline numbers, but these have been running engaged. I am really tense. I have not been able to concentrate on my studies.”

Navreen, who is pursuing biotechnology on the campus, too, shared her worries, “Since Friday last I have not been able to contact my dad Daljit Singh, who is with the J&K Police, and my three sisters. All what I have been doing is getting updates from our Kashmiri friends on the campus. We have been impatiently watching TV the whole day and surfing on various social networking sites the whole night to hear about the well-being of our families. We have all liked the FB pages on Kashmir floods and asked for details of our families so that we keep getting updates on our phones.”

Tanya, LPU student from West Bengal, said her grandparents Ashok Kumar Chakraborty and Manju Chakraborty along with 24 other Bengali senior citizens had gone to Srinagar for a trip on September 1 and have not been able to return. “We last heard about them on Sunday through a tour member, who said they were in the Boulevard area, near the Dal Lake. I am really worried and have been banking upon Kashmiri friends on the campus to get all the updates,” she said.

Principal of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts Dr Sucharita, too, has been caught in the flood-ravaged Kashmir. Her family members back home have said they have had no contact with her for the past two days.

Meanwhile, Harpreet Kaur, a lecturer at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV), who has her parents at Shivpora in Kashmir, too, is worried as she has not been able to contact them since Sunday afternoon. “That time, my father Tirlok Singh Sachdeva said that the level of water has reached the first floor of their house and they have moved to the second floor and waiting for getting rescued. My brother Chanderdeep Singh, a MES contractor, told me that teams were first shifting women and children and they would be taking my sister-in-law Simran and three-year-old nephew to a safer place. All efforts to contact them on phone, Twitter or FB since 
then have gone in vain,” she said.

Dehradun, September 9
The Uttarakhand Government today announced Rs 10 crore assistance for the flood-affected state of Jammu and Kashmir. The state, which bore the brunt of flood fury in 2013, would also dispatch around 30 rafts and submersible pumps to Jammu and Kashmir on the Centre’s request.

“Chief Minister Harish Rawat has told the officials to immediately release Rs 10 crore for the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar.

“Around 30-40 rafts would be dispatched to the state in the evening through helicopter from the Sarsawa Air Force station. These would be used in rescue operation. If need be, more rafts would be dispatched. We will also be sending submersible pumps procured from dam sites for the flood-affected state. These would be used to suck out water from flooded parts of the state,” Kumar said.

The Chief Secretary further said the state would also lend its expertise in setting up a missing persons cell to locate people who might have gone missing during the floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Secretary, Sports and Youth affairs, Ajay Pradyot, who was responsible for setting up the missing persons cell in Dehradun for tracing out persons who went missing during the flood fury in 2013, would reach Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow and help set up a similar cell to trace out persons who may have gone missing during the floods there,” Kumar told reporters. — TNS

Jammu, September 9
The losses suffered by the traders and industrialists of Jammu and Kashmir due to the worst ever floods in the last nearly six decades might touch a staggering Rs 40,000 crore mark.

Traders and industrialists affected by flash floods have requested the Central government for early assessment of their loss so that they are suitably compensated and restart their business at the earliest.

“The loss to the business community is beyond imagination. Traders in the flood-affected districts of the state have lost everything. If their losses are not assessed and they are not compensated soon they would be forced to live a hand to mouth life in near future,” president of the Associated Chamber of Traders Federation (ACTF), Jammu, Yashpal Gupta told The Tribune.

He claimed the estimated losses of business community and industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir might touch a whopping Rs 40,000 crore mark.

“We request the Central government to expedite the process of assessment of losses suffered by traders, businessmen and industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir so that they are provided early compensation,” Gupta said, adding that the business activity had come to a standstill following floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains.

The recent rain and flash floods affected 2,500 villages and claimed about 200 human lives in the past one week in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after conducting an aerial survey of the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir on September 7, had announced Rs 1,000 crore assistance to the state in addition to Rs 1,100 crore already made available to the Jammu and Kashmir Government under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

General secretary of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) Anil Gupta said they have made an appeal to all the affected traders and businessmen in Jammu to approach the body with the details of their loss so that their matter is taken up with the quarters concerned immediately.

“It would be difficult to imagine the loss to the business community and traders in submerged Kashmir valley, but loss to traders in Jammu province, comprising 10 districts, is not less than Rs 100 crore. As far as loss to industries is concerned, only seven industrialists have so far approached us and their losses are estimated to be around Rs 3 crore,” Gupta said.

The traders have been suffering huge loss as the business has dropped to its lowest level following floods in the Valley. Besides, the disruption in Vaishno Devi yatra due to prevailing weather condition has also cost the business community dearly, he said.

According to preliminary figures available with the administration, nearly 10,000 houses have suffered damage due to landslides and flash floods triggered by incessant rain in Jammu province, while the loss in terms of damage to roads, power and water supply is estimated to be in thousands of crores.

Panchari (Udhampur), Sept 9
It has turned out to be a tragedy like that of Uttrakhand last year as hopes of the recovery of bodies have diminished and those alive will have to give proof in the court of law that their family members are dead to seek compensation.

As more than 60 hours have passed when a massive landslide buried around 25 houses and 12 bodies have been recovered so far, the hope of rescuing 38 other missing persons alive has nearly diminished. Still hundreds of persons were waiting to see their dear ones alive at Sadhota village in the remote Panjar panchayat of Panchari Tehsil tin Udhampur district here today.

“Although all efforts are being made to dig out the bodies, but it seems that it has become another Uttrakhand-like tragedy wherein bodies were buried deep inside the debris and could not be dug out. Those who survived produced themselves in the court of law to declare that their family members are dead and assured that they would return the compensation money with bank interest if any one of them is found alive in near future,” said a senior government official after visiting the site today.

As a media crew reached the place after covering nearly 20 km on foot, the scene was horrifying as women and children were crying, whereas 300 jawans, including that from the NDRF, Army, CRPF and JKP, supported by locals were busy removing the debris in a hope that someone might be alive somewhere.

“We have a list of 50 persons who were missing. The bodies of 12 missing persons have been recovered. We are losing hope of finding the other missing persons alive as time is passing. But we will continue the search with the help of jawans till the last body is recovered. As the entire 2 km-radius hill has slid down, it is quite possible that we may not be able to dig out all bodies manually,” said Romesh Singh, sarpanch of the Panjar panchayat.“It is a bigger tragedy than we could have ever imagine as my entire family is there in the debris and I am waiting here outside helplessly praying to God that my two and five years’ old daughters and 10 years’ old son be alive. My mother, father, wife, two brothers and their families are there in the debris,” said Ramesh Kumar, while crying bitterly. He was in Katra, where he is employed, when the landslide occurred.

“The bodies of my two sons, who were six and 10 years’ old, have been recovered, but my wife is nowhere in sight and I can just pray that she be alive,” said Puran Chand, who is a shopkeeper at Panchari, and had rushed to the place after the tragedy occurred.

Rajouri, September 9
Former Health Minister and Rajouri MLA Shabir Ahmed Khan visited flood-hit areas in Thanamndi, Rajouri and Manjakot tehsils on Sunday and Monday.

He also attended the funeral of the 13 persons who died in a house collapse in Thanamandi. The MLA directed the district administration to provided immediate relief to the affected people. He was accompanied by Mohd Saleem Malik, ADC, SK Chowhan, ASP, and distributed cheques among the kin of the dead.

He met people at Aitti, Darhali Morh, Lower Dhanore, Muradpur, Alpha Gate, Tariq Bridge and Bela Colony and listened to their problems.

The Rajouri MLA sanctioned a Rs 23 crore project for the second Abdullah bridge and the permanent solution for the safety of Bela Colony, situated on the banks of the Agli Tawi.

He appreciated the efforts of district officers Jitendar Kumar, DDC, and Mubassir Latifi, SSP, in providing immediate relief to the victims.

On Tuesday, Shabir Ahmed Khan visited the flood-hit areas in Manjakot, his home town, and inaugurated the tehsil office. Anil Sharma joined as the tehsildar in the presence of the MLA and other district officers.

MLA also directed the tehsildar to take stock of the losses and make arrangements for the help of the victims.

Katra, September 9
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) fired in the air, burst smoke shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse protesters at the Salal Dam area in Reasi today.

The incident occurred when protesters, led by Dev raj, were protesting at the Salal Dam site against non-availability of electricity for the past seven days in Talwara. Reports said the trouble began when protesters tried to enter the power station.

“Some protesters tried to enter the Salal Power Station, others started throwing stones at the CISF personnel who retaliated with teargas shelling and aerial firing,” said a source. — OC

Jammu, September 9
As the state is still struggling to come out of the catastrophic damage done by the recent week-long incessant rain, a sudden spurt in the prices of vegetables, fruits and other eatables in the city have hit the budget of a common man.

Shopkeepers selling vegetables and fruits are blaming the incessant rain for the steep hike in the prices. They said due to the inflation, their sale has come down to a great extent.

“The heavy rains have really brought disaster to the state as we are now finding it difficult to attract customers for purchasing vegetables and fruits,” a vegetable vendor in the Nai Basti area of the city said.

“Due to week-long rains, the road connectivity has almost been lost and there is no movement of carriers to bring fresh fruits and vegetables. We are now forced to sell the old stock and that too at high prices, because we also have no other option left,” he claimed.

As far as vegetables are concerned, beans are being sold at whopping Rs 120 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 80 per kg, tomato at Rs 60 per kg, brinjal at Rs 40 per kg and onion at Rs 30 per kg.

Meanwhile, the fruits also seem to be out of common man’s budget as pomegranate is being sold at Rs 90 per kg, banana at Rs 50 per dozen and apple at Rs 40 per kg.

According to the vendors at various vegetable markets, the rates of vegetables have gone up sharply over the past few days and some vegetable items are even being sold at double the rates.

“Even common vegetable items like potato, tomato and onion are inching away from common man’s budget. Many families have even cut down on the variety of dishes in view of the high prices of the vegetables,” said Rakesh, a resident of the Nai Basti area.

“Due to the high prices of vegetables, majority of customers belonging to the middle class prefer pulses to put less burden on their pockets,” said a vegetable vendor.

“The demand for vegetables and fruits is very high, but there is no proper planning for the processing and cold storage of locally produced vegetables, due to which not only farmers suffer huge loss, but also the consumers remain at the receiving end,” said another local resident.

Jammu, September 9
The University of Jammu (JU) has finally extended the deadline for all non-government colleges of education (BEd colleges) to get National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) accreditation. The colleges have been asked to get the same by April 30, 2015.

The Forum of Recognised Colleges of Education (FORCE) had requested the university authorities to extend the same as a one-time exception. With this, the seat allotment formula based on the NAAC accreditation and affiliation status in non-government colleges of education will not be applied for the academic session 2014-15.

The decision in this regard was taken in the recently held sixth meeting of the College Development Council (CDC) under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof MPS Isher. The meeting was attended by the registrar, controller of examinations, director, College Development Council, deans, Faculty of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, principals, MAM College, Jammu, GGM Science College, Jammu, GDC (Boys), Udhampur, Prof Veena Pandita and Dr Avinash Kumar Gupta.

Sources said after detailed deliberations in the meeting regarding the reports of surprise inspections, statutes in vogue, the representation made by FORCE, role and image of the university and overall prevailing situation in the education sector was discussed.

A discussion was also held to consider the reports of surprise inspections conducted by teams as per the University Council resolution and determine the intake capacity of non-government colleges of education affiliated to the University of Jammu on the basis of rational mechanism, devised and approved by the University Council, in its 75th meeting held on November 11, 2013.

According to the rational mechanism formula, devised and approved by the University Council, as a one-time exception, the average attendance of students found present during two inspections (ie inspections during which higher number of students were found present) vis-a-vis the number of students admitted be reckoned and thereafter the intake seats of colleges for the the session 2014-15 be fixed.

As per the formula, where the average attendance of two inspections is 60 per cent of the admitted candidates, the sanctioned intake of seats of such colleges will remain intact and where the average attendance of two inspections is above 45 per cent, but below 60 per cent of the admitted candidates, the sanctioned intake of seats of such colleges be reduced by 25 per cent.

Further, where the average attendance of two inspections is above 30 per cent, but below 45 per cent of the admitted candidates, the sanctioned intake of seats of such colleges be reduced by 50 per cent.

Also, where the average attendance of two inspections is above 15 per cent, but below 30 per cent of the admitted candidates, the sanctioned intake of seats of such colleges be reduced by 75 per cent.

Where the average attendance of two inspections is above 5 per cent, but below 15 per cent of the admitted candidates, such colleges be allotted 60 seats, and where the average attendance of two inspections is below 5 per cent of the admitted candidates, such colleges be allotted 60 seats and a show cause notice for disaffiliation as per statutes be issued, the formula added.

Jammu, September 9
L&T Infotech, a global information technology (IT) services company, visited Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, for campus recruitment of students who are going to pass out in May 2015.

About 180 students from across the state appeared in this joint campus drive. Students from University of Jammu, Model Institute of Education and Technology (MIET), Jammu, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshan University (BGSBU), Rajouri, and Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu, participated in the exercise conducted by the L&T Infotech recruitment team from Mumbai.

All participating students passed through rigorous recruitment stages, including an online test, group discussion, paragraph writing, technical and HR rounds of interviews.

Finally, 21 students, out of which 12 are from SMVDU, 12 from GCET, two from MIET and six from the University of Jammu, have been selected by the company. Joji George, Manager, Campus Recruitment, L&T Infotech, called upon the Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, Prof Sudhir K Jain, and briefed him about the L&T Infotech campus recruitment plan. — TNS

Katra, September 9
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today opened the Sanjichhat-Bhawan track for the yatra to the shrine this morning. The Sanjichhat-Bhairon temple track was opened yesterday.

Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the shrine board, said the yatra was going on smoothly through the both tracks. The staff of the shrine board and the Disaster Management Task Force personnel were deployed on the track to ensure smooth and safe movement of the pilgrims.

Dr Bhandari said helicopter sorties between Katra and Sanjichhat also started operating from today. While around 18,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine yesterday, around 13,000 pilgrims proceeded from Katra to the shrine today. — OC

Udhampur, September 9
Youths of the Garhi and Jib Thathi area of Udhampur were lathicharged by the police on Monday night. They were staging a dharna at Jib Morh and were demanding the restoration of the water and power supply, which was snapped six days ago. They blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway for more than an hour. Five youths were injured in the lathicharge and admitted to the district hospital.

“We were just protesting against the indifferent attitude of the district administration as 50,000 people have been suffering due to the lack of water and power supply for the past six days. We just wanted an assurance from the senior officials, but the police resorted to the lathicharge," said Veer Chander, a resident.

Meanwhile a senior police official said," Many youngsters were drunk and started pelting stones. Thereafter, we were left with no option but to take action and clear the national highway.” — OC