Jammu, October 9
The Power Development Department (PDD) has failed to restore power supply in the city after strong winds snapped electricity lines and destroyed power infrastructure. Several areas in the city are still without electricity.

The department has, however, started restoration of the power supply immediately after the storm hit the city, but many of the areas of the city are still under darkness.

Vijay Kumar, a resident of Dream City Colony, Muthi, said, “Many poles have been damaged. Wires were literally on the roads, but the department has not reached the spot till this morning.”

“It is like we are living in dark ages. Inverters have stopped working and we are dependent on candles,” he added.

The power supply was restored in many areas, where the losses were less, by Wednesday evening, but the areas like Muthi, Domana, Barnai, Talab Tillo, Canal Road, Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar were badly affected due to winds.

The power supply to posh localities of the city was restored this morning, but many of them are still under darkness.

The department has not even assessed the actual damages due to storm.

Ajay Gupta, Superintending Engineer (SE), said, “The loss has not been assessed till now. The restoration work is on, but it will take another two days to fully restore the power supply in the city.”

The half-an-hour-long storm on Tuesday evening, caused by the Western Disturbances, has put the normal life out of gear in many parts of the Jammu region.

The storm caused massive damage to the infrastructure of the Power Development Department in terms of tilting of poles and snapping of electricity wires due to felling of trees and branches.

Jammu, October 9
Minister for Roads and Buildings (R&B) Abdul Majid Wani today visited Government Medical College (GMC) and Hospital to enquire about the wellbeing of people injured in recent ceasefire violations by the Pakistan on the international border in Jammu.

He was accompanied by the Principal and other senior staff members of the medical college.

Wani met several injured people as well as BSF personnel admitted to the medical college and assured their attendants that the government is committed to providing them the best medical treatment without any charges.

He also directed the hospital administration to provide these people free of cost medical treatment and constitute a special team of doctors to take round-the-clock care of them.

Talking to mediapersons, Wani said the Pakistan army is showing cowardice by firing on innocent people living in the border areas. This is being done only to divert the attention of its own people from its internal turmoil.

“This act by the Pakistan rangers and army reflects their frustration over the Kashmiri youth having rejected the gun culture as propagated by the subversive elements. Their efforts to misguide the Kashmiri youth have totally failed,” Wani said.

He said that everybody witnessed how Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tried to raise the pitch over Kashmir during his UN General Assembly address, but no attention was paid to his views.

Srinagar, October 9
The Army on Thursday said 200 militants were waiting across the Line of Control to sneak into Kashmir.

“We have inputs that 200 terrorists are waiting at the launching pads to enter Kashmir,” General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha said on the sidelines of a blood donation camp in Srinagar.

The GOC said that militants were desperate to enter the Valley as the upper reaches had received snowfall. “The terrorists are looking for a little window to enter into the Valley before winter. But the troops on the ground are on alert,” he said.

In the past four weeks, the Army foiled four infiltration attempts in which 12 militants were killed. These bids were foiled in the frontier Kupwara district.

On the appearance of the Islamic State (IS) flag during a rally, the GOC said that the situation was being closely monitored. “This issue is getting the highest concern of all security agencies,” he said.

Earlier, a blood bank camp was organised by the Army at 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, as humanitarian assistance to support the flood-affected people of Kashmir. Lt General Saha inaugurated the camp.

As many as 200 Army soldiers, including Major General JS Cheema, Chief of Staff, Chinar Corps, donated blood.

An Army spokesman said a number of hospitals had earlier approached the Army with regard to the requirement of blood for conducting surgeries on flood-affected victims.

“The Army volunteered to assist the civil administration in this noble cause and conducted the second blood donation camp. The first such camp was conducted at Rangreth on October 4,” he said.

Jammu, October 9
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the guns should fall silent on borders for any future dialogue between India and Pakistan.

“We cannot change our neighbours but guns should fall silent for future dialogue between the two countries. It is unfortunate that the neighbouring country has been targeting the civilian areas. We cannot sit silent to unabated firing from across the border,” Omar said while addressing the shelling-affected families at a relief camp set up at a school in Hiranagar.

The Chief Minister, who flew to Jammu from Srinagar to meet the shelling-affected families in the camps established for them by the state government, described the shelling on the international border as “unprecedented” and said the situation had deteriorated on the border.

“We have witnessed maximum shelling and firing along the Line of Control but this time Pakistan has resorted to unprecedented ceasefire violations on the international border which has forced our people living in border areas to migrate to safer places,” Omar said.

The Chief Minister, who also held meetings with divisional and district officers at the Jammu, Samba and Hiranagar areas to be briefed on the situation following unabated shelling from across the borders in various sectors in Jammu division, said the state government had decided to send a comprehensive proposal of allotting five-marla (one marla is equal to 272 sq ft) plots to border people at safe places so that they can migrate to these places at the time of shelling and firing.

Omar asked the divisional officers to identify more places of temporary shelters for the population migrating from border areas.

He also ascertained the status of delivery of services by the state government to the affected families with regard to provision of free food, shelter, drinking water, medical facilities, bedding and other related facilities at the relief camps. He interacted with inmates of the camps and asked them about the quality and nature of services being provided to them.

The Chief Minister, while expressing solidarity with the shelling victims in this hour of crisis, expressed deep grief over loss of human lives in the shelling from across the border.

He also prayed for the early recovery of injured. The inmates of the camps brought to his notice various issues confronting them which included safety of cattle and property they had left behind. He said the state government would do whatever was possible to safeguard the lives of the people as also their cattle.

He said instructions had already been given to the divisional authorities to take all measures for providing the necessary succour to the affected people. He had also given directions for establishing temporary camps for cattle as also arranging fodder and medical facilities for them.

Omar said the police department had been asked to take measures for the safety of property of the migrants. He said other demands of reservation and allotment of plots presented by the affected people would be taken up at the right forums appropriately. 

Srinagar, October 9
A major fire tragedy was averted by the Army in Khumriyal village of frontier Kupwara district when soldiers noticed smoke billowing out from the house of a local resident.

An Army spokesman said a fire broke out in the house of Mohammad Maqbool Mir in Khumriyal village last night.

“Sentries of the Army Battalion deployed in the area observed the fire and immediately sounded the alarm,” he said. While a column of 35 soldiers suitably equipped with fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment was rushed to the spot, the civil fire department was also informed about the incident.

“Soon, a fire tender along with state police representatives also reached the site. By the time the fire tender reached, the Army column had already localised the fire and the situation was brought under control,” he added.

The fire was finally extinguished through joint efforts of the fire fighters and the villagers.

“The prompt and effective response of the Army team in collaboration with the Fire Department, state police as well as the locals prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses thus ensuring safety of life, livestock and property in the village. While a large portion of the cowshed belonging to Mir was burnt, there was no loss of life or livestock,” the spokesman said. 

Garkhal, October 9
Amidst loss of human lives in shelling on the Indo-Pak border, thousands of villagers in various relief camps look a troubled lot because their cattle remain at the mercy of Pakistani guns.

“When we get ready to leave our homes in the evening for relief camps, our cattle start mooing and bellowing. They also have a sixth sense. At the camp, we keep worrying about them and anxiously return the next morning to see what has happened to them, to see whether they are dead or alive,” says Swarn Singh at Garkhal in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.

In the ongoing Pakistani shelling along 198-km-long international border, several heads of cattle have died and several have been left injured. Farming has already taken a severe hit and now these cattle are a source of our livelihood, he adds.

Jyoti Devi, whose three cows were injured by shrapnel last night, says: “We know how they behave when we get ready before sunset to leave for relief camps because shelling starts in the evening. Cattle are more sensible than human beings. They understand love and care.” “These animals experience deafening sounds of explosions and get hit by mortars and bullets,” she adds. Pritam Lal of Dab Sudan Camp in Jammu district says villagers move to camps after providing fodder and water to their cattle.

“They are like family members to us and leaving them home at the mercy of Pakistani guns leaves us with a feeling that cannot be described in words,” he adds.

A marginal farmer, Ram Lal of Dab Sudan Camp village, whose two cows were killed and another was injured last night, is a shattered man today.

“They were the only source of my livelihood. One cow today costs Rs 60,000 and the government gives Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 compensation and that, too, to the lucky ones,” he says.

Every day before sunset, villagers move out to relief camps on tractor-trailers to escape Pakistani shelling in the night and then return home the next morning.

Srinagar, October 9
Almost a month after the floods, which left nearly 300 dead in the state and rendered thousands homeless, psychiatrists in the Valley have warned of severe levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among the affected in case immediate steps are not taken for their rehabilitation.

“How best we cope with it will depend on how best relief and rehabilitation is done. Focus should be currently on food, shelter, clothing and health. If we fulfill the basic needs of people under these circumstances, the morbidity is going to be minimal,” said Arshid Hussain, consultant psychiatrist at Government Medical College in Srinagar.

Arshad maintains that it is not that there would be no psychiatric morbidity after the devastating floods.

“It will be minimal if our relief and rehabilitation are optimal,” he said.

Of the hundreds of families rendered homeless in Srinagar, nearly 100 are now living in tents located in various areas of the city.

Many other homeless families have been putting up either in rented accommodations or living with their relatives.

The consultant said most of the people were coping and showing resilience to handle the situation.

“Most of the people are coping and resilient. You can see resilience on roads. People are doing their best to leave trauma behind and reconnect with life. Cleaning, retrieving, mending and helping are signs of coping,” he said.

He said the focus at this time should be on people who have an existing psychiatric illness. “Our focus should be on people whose current distress is severe enough to warrant a diagnosis such as suicidality and psychosis,” he said.

Arshad who in the past has done research on natural disasters of Waltengo, when a snowstorm struck the village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag in 2006, killing nearly 200 persons, and the earthquake in Uri and Tanghdar on October 8, 2005, has found out that after three months most of the people would be doing fine and be out of the black hole of trauma.

He, however, maintained that belief, social networking and social bonding were the ways to handle the anxiety disorder.

“The sieve of coping and resilience is working but there will be people who will pass through this sieve. We have to be ready for them with stretched hands and not let them fall. Our weapons are faith and belief, social networking and social bonding. Avoid loneliness and social isolation,” he said.

PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. PTSD following the floods is common and especially when the devastation is huge and the recovery looks difficult. The anxiety disorder is a serious condition that requires professional intervention and management.

“It is vital that victims of the floods should be encouraged to seek help,” said another doctor.

Srinagar, October 9
RN Sudhakar, Chief General Manager, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Jammu and Kashmir Circle, met Governor NN Vohra here today.

Sudhakar told the Governor about various problems being faced by his organisation in the restoration of telecommunication services in the aftermath of the recent floods in the state.

He told the Governor that steps taken to address these difficulties so far had led to a great deal of progress being achieved in the replacement of transmission equipment at Lal Chowk, in partially restoring mobile network, landline telephones, wireless telephone lines, and internet facility and that the problems shall relate to the replacement of underground cables, which was likely to be done by the end of the next month.

Sudhakar conceded the Governor’s suggestion that consumers must not be billed for the current billing cycle and in fact given certain concessions.

The Governor emphasised the need for reliable alternate wireless connectivity in the state, which could be used at the time of disasters. He stressed the importance of telecommunication facilities for the revival of economy of the state after this disaster.

Srinagar, October 9
A delegation of the Kashmir Society led by its chairman Khawaja Farooq Renzu Shah met Governor NN Vohra here today.

The delegation apprised the Governor of the colossal damage suffered and the varied hardships faced by the people affected by the recent floods in the Valley.

The members of the delegation, who hail from different vocations and areas of the Valley, laid stress on need of adequate relief and rehabilitation package being secured from the Central Government.

They demanded Rs 25 lakh for fully damaged houses and Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh for other damaged buildings. The delegation also demanded that the higher professional and non-professional examinations should be held in early November and interest on loans advanced in the horticulture and agriculture sectors should be waived off.

The delegation also put forth their suggestions regarding the restoration of pashmina shawls in the Valley. The Governor assured the delegation that their demands would be taken up with the government. 

Srinagar, October 9
RP Savita, Director, Conservation, National Museum Delhi (NMD), called on Governor NN Vohra here on Thursday.

The Governor discussed with the Director the urgency of every possible step being taken to restore paintings, books, manuscripts, artefacts and other items, which were damaged during the recent floods in different libraries and museums of the Valley.

Savita said he and his colleagues had undertaken a rapid appraisal of the damage at the SPS Museum, Srinagar, and were confident that barring papier-mache items, which were reported to be altogether destroyed, other items would be largely salvaged. The Governor was reassured to learn that the invaluable Gilgit manuscripts were safe.

Raj Bhawan spokesman said soon after the floods, the Governor had spoken to the Central Ministry of Culture and sought their help for the SPS Museum. 

Srinagar, October 9
An expert team sent by the Central government to assess damage caused by the recent floods to 79, 595 artefacts at the historic Sri Pratap Singh (SPS) Museum at Raj Bagh, Srinagar, said almost 90 per cent of the damaged artefacts would be restored to their original glory.

The team was sent to the Valley after Governor NN Vohra had sought Centre’s help in preservation of Kashmir’s treasure troves.

Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Kashmir, Shafi Zahid who met with the team said the Central team headed by RP Savita, director, Conservation of the National Museum, who is currently on a two-day tour to the SPS Museum, had assured all possible help to the museum staff and was satisfied with the preservation measures.

Zahid said all artefacts, except jewellery pieces and decorative items made of papier-mache, would be restored to their original glory. There are over 1,000 decorative items in the museum.

“The damage to the papier-mache is permanent and we may not be able to restore these items. That is because papier-mache products are made up of waste paper and once water seeps into it, its finish and texture gets lost permanently,” Zahid said. He said currently all artefacts had been kept in a fumigation chamber so as to prevent the growth of fungus on it.

He said students as well as experts from the archaeology institutes from all over the country would be consulted to discuss preventive measures for the restoration of the artefacts.

“The expert team is keen on chalking out a programme aimed at ensuring complete preservation of these artefacts. We will rope in local artisans involved in timber work and textile designing in preservation work,” he said.

Srinagar, October 9
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today said the government had announced speedy grant of building permission for the flood-affected house owners of the state.

“The J&K Government has announced a policy for reconstruction/repairs of those houses which have got affected during the recent floods in the state. As per the government order dated October 8, the competent authorities in SMC, SDA, LAWDA, JMC, JDA and other local body institutions of the state, in whose jurisdiction the structure falls, have been authorised to grant permissions within a period of three days in favour of these affected owners,” an SMC statement issued today said.

The owners as per the statement will have to submit applications along with a copy of the FIR registered with the nearest police station and an affidavit to the effect that “the applicant is a lawful owner of the premises for which permission is being sought and also that he will not deviate from original structure and he has raised the construction legally among other requirements”.

“A big relief to such owners has been also announced by way of announcement in the government order that no building permission fee shall be charged from these owners,” the statement said.

The decision was taken during a recent meeting under the chairmanship of Minister of Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora. 

Srinagar, October 9
The State Board of School Education (BoSE) will conduct the annual examinations of Classes X and XII in November. The BoSE will release its examination notification tomorrow, an official spokesperson of BoSE said.

He added that all changes made in the syllabi as well as patterns of examinations would be included in the notification.

Earlier, these two examinations were slated to be held in the first week of October, which were later cancelled due to the deluge. There were apprehensions of postponement of state board exams and mass promotions among school students.

School Education Minister Tara Chand had reportedly said the examinations would not be delayed till next year as that would lead to wastage of one precious academic year of students.

After cancellations of examinations in the Kashmir division, the BoSE went ahead with conducting exams in Leh and Kargil districts.

However, for the undergraduate and postgraduate students, the wait for examinations may be longer as the examinations will be held in March next year.

Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, AM Shah said they have tentatively decided that the exams of all colleges would be conducted in March-April session.

The examinations in colleges have been delayed by a couple of months owing to huge infrastructure damage to the colleges especially those located in Srinagar city.

The floods led to disruption in the class work at colleges and on the KU campus although the college authorities have directed the third-year students to remain present in the classes. 

Srinagar, October 9
With the government likely to conduct college and university exams in March-April session after nearly a dozen colleges were devastated by floods last month, students are apprehensive that the delay may waste their coming academic year.

The exams which are usually conducted in the Valley between October and January have now been delayed by three months due to the floods, but the student community is in trauma fearing that it might affect their academic year.

“If the exams are conducted in March –April then we will have to wait for our results at least for a month, which means our next academic calendar will be affected. It will waste our lot of time not only current year will be impacted but the next year as well. The government should come up with some comprehensive solution,” said a student of English honours.

The Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, however, said they have tentatively decided that the exams of all colleges would be conducted in March-April session. The dates have not been decided yet. “The exams will be conducted in March. We will be meeting all college principals in the third week of October to come up with dates,” said AM Shah, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University.

The students however say they won’t get time to prepare or appear in competitive exams in other states. “We will lose half a year. We can’t prepare for competitive exams in advance. Outside universities would have to relax their deadlines and admission schedule in order to accommodate flood-affected students,” said college student Mantasha Bhat.

The students demanded that either there their syllabus should be relaxed to conduct early exams or there should be a proper agreement between students and the authorities.

“There should be a mutual agreement between students and universities. An inspection should be conducted of college buildings to check vulnerability to disease outbreaks before colleges are opened,” said Areeba, a final-year student.

The government had recently declared 10 colleges in Kashmir as worst-hit by the recent floods. The state’s Ministry of Higher Education has also sent a note to the State Cabinet recommending postponing of all examinations in institutions under its ambit from existing October-November session to March-April in the meeting last week. 

Jammu, October 9
A faculty development programme (FDP) was conducted at Maharaja Harisingh Agricultural Collegiate (MHAC) School, Nagbani, to update the teaching faculty on the modern thinking, planning and implementing strategies to deal with the challenges of teaching.

Around 100 teachers from various DAV schools of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Pathankoat, Gurdaspur, Moga, Hoshiarpur and Jammu participated in this workshop.

Dr Chand Trehan, who is a student counsellor and a master trainer associated with the DAV Sangathan and CBSE, was the resource person. Presently she is capacity building officer at the University of Jammu.

Principal Alok Betab welcomed the participants and the programme started with a prayer followed by an informative daylong session on inculcation of life skills.

Jammu, October 9
Fortis Escort Hospital, Amritsar, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Educational Society (IGES) Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, organised a free multi-speciality camp at Miransahib to providing healthcare facilities to patients at the doorsteps.

The camp was organised in association with Dr Amit Vaid. During the camp free check-up for bone and joint diseases, heart diseases and diabetes was provided by specialists from Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, to about 250 patients.

Dr Vaid said the aim for organising the camp is to offer all sorts of medical facilities to both rural and urban people under one roof so that they do not have to travel long distances for medical help. Besides, free medicines were provided to the needy patients. ECG as well as blood sugar tests were also done during the camp.

A well-trained team of 20 paramaedics from the IGES Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences, headed by Dr Goutam Sharma and assisted by Gurjinder Kour (tutor) rendered free services in the camp.

Panches and sarpanches of the area also rendered their help in holding the camp. Rajeev Verma, Head, J&K Operations, Fortis Escort, advised the patients for follow-up consultations and asked them to visit Fortis Escorts OPD Centre, House No 1, Sector-9, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.

An admission outlet for admission to paramedical courses was also established by the IGES Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences in the camp where many aspirants showed keen interest for taking admission in various nursing and paramedical courses.

Jammu, October 9
The Kashmir Migrant cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today held a meeting to discuss the post-flood situation in the Kashmir valley.

Addressing a meeting, cell president Bharat Bushan Gosani said there are fears that many temples which got damaged due to the floods will collapse.

Gosani urged the government and the district administration to prevent attempts of land mafia to encroach upon the land.

He also condemned the unprovoked firing by Pakistan on the international border and LoC and urged the Central Government to give befitting reply to Pakistan so that people living in border areas don’t suffer.

Jammu, October 9
The state body of the JK Electrical Qualified Foremen Association (JKEQFA) was formed today. A general body meeting of the association was held under the chairmanship of its patron Deepak Tandon.

Manmohan Singh has been elected president, Shubdev Sharma senior vice-president, Kousal Sharma vice president, NK Gupta general secretary, Sudesh Sharma joint secretary, Rajan Babu special invitee-publicity secretary, Surinder Sharma chief organiser, Ajay Sharma organiser, Manhor Lal Saini spokesman and Jatinder Sharma treasurer.

Executive members are Ram Paul Sharma, Narinder Singh, Ashok Kumar Vohra, Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Romesh Kumar, Raman Kumar, Sudershan Singh and Romesh Gandhi.

Jammu, October 9
Army Public School (APS), Akhnoor, secured the first position in both English and Hindi categories in the recently concluded Northern Command Inter-School Hindi and English Debate Competition.

The runners-up trophy in Hindi was won by APS, Udhampur, while the runners-up trophy in English by APS, Nagrota. The best speaker award in Hindi was shared by three students, namely Muskan Chib and Priyanka Devi from APS, Akhnoor, and Shivi Badyal from APS, Udhampur.

Similarly, the best speaker award in English debate was won by Putkar Verma from APS, Nagrota.

The schools which participated in the competition included APS, Udhampur, APS, Dhar Road, APS, Nagrota, APS, Rakhmuthi, and APS, Akhnoor. Chairman of APS, Akhnoor, Brig SK Dey had send his best wishes to all the participants.

Earlier, Principal of APS Akhnoor KCS Mehta inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp along with the judges from KV No 2, Akhnoor, DAV School, Akhnoor and Boys Higher Secondary School, Akhnoor. They were Nand Kishore, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Narinder Langer, Rupali Rajput, Bal Krishan, Nisha Langer and Gunjan Kohli.

Jammu, October 9
HDFC Bank has donated medical supplies and relief material to the flood-affected areas of Kursoo, Batmaloo, Jawahar Nagar, Bemina, Pampore and Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir.

The bank partnered with the Help Poor Voluntary Trust (HPVT) to reach out to the local residents in these areas and distribute blankets, woollens, clothing, bedding, towels and utility kits among them.

The bank also conducted free medical camps through HPVT at Rangreth in Srinagar.

Zubair Iqbal, Circle Head, J&K, HDFC Bank, said, “In the aftermath of the calamity, we consider it our duty as a part of the local populace and a responsible corporate citizens to support the relief efforts in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Our immediate priority was to ensure resumption of operations for our customers. We were among the first banks to resume operations in the state.”

Rajouri, October 9
Truce violations have increased manifold after a joint visit of terrorist commanders and Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI) officials to the LoC recently, Intelligence sources said.

The visit of the officials was reportedly organised in the third week of September and they visited many places near the LoC from Kotli to other areas opposite the Tarkundi and Bhimbergali (BG) sectors in Rajouri and Poonch.

Immediately after their visit to these areas, a remote-controlled IED device was planted by militants in collaboration with the Border Action Team of the Pakistan army in which a soldier was killed on October 4 and another critically injured. Since October 4, the Pakistan army has resorted to heavy firing and shelling at many places on the international border and the LoC in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

As Pakistan seems to be in no mood to de-escalate tension on the international border and the LoC and India is all set to give a befitting reply, tension on the border may increase during the next few days. Currently there is peace on the LoC in Rajouri district, but Intelligence sources said it might flare up in the district if Pakistan continued to violate the truce agreement.

To meet any such situation, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kathua, Jitendra Kumar Singh today held a meeting with tehsildars, SDMs and other officials and chalked out a contingency plan to meet any such eventuality on the borders.

“All the SDMs/tehsildars have been advised to identify buildings at safe places so that residents from near the LoC/ fence may be shifted to these buildings. They were also directed to tell people to avoid visiting places near the border and also avoid moving in open,” the DC said.

AK Attri, DIG, Rajouri-Poonch police range, has also directed SSPs of Rajouri-Poonch districts and all ASPs and SHOs in these districts to identify safer places and to educate people on digging trenches to meet any escalated tension on the border.

Srinagar, October 9
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today issued directions for the “immediate” distribution of all relief to the flood-affected families under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). He, however, stated that a comprehensive package for the rehabilitation of flood-hit families, formulated by the state government, was being sent to the Centre for release of funds.

The Chief Minister said this while chairing a high-level meeting of bureaucrats this morning. The meeting was called to review the process of relief and rehabilitation for the flood-hit families, an official statement said.

“Whatever relief is available for the affected families under the SDRF should be immediately distributed to them,” the Chief Minister told the officials during the meeting.

The Chief Minister said that the compensation for the loss of livestock, damages to crops, collapsed houses (fully or partially), bedding, clothing, etc should be accounted for in delivery of temporary relief to the flood survivors.

He said winter was setting in fast and the Deputy Commissioners concerned should spare no efforts and lose no time in distributing the relief.

Omar said the comprehensive package for the rehabilitation of flood-hit families had been formulated by the state government and was being sent to the Centre for release of funds. Till the time the Special Relief Package got approved by the Central government, the Deputy Commissioners should promptly distribute all sort of temporary relief available under the SDRF, he added.

The Chief Minister, who has fixed one week’s time for completing the task of distributing compensation to house owners whose houses have been fully damaged in the floods, was briefed by the Divisional Commissioner on the follow-up action on the issue, the statement said.

Omar was told that around 168 families in Srinagar had been identified who are residing in tents on roadsides and a plan was being formulated to provide them temporary housing shelter.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for early completion of assessment of crop and cattle losses in the devastating floods. “Give strict directions to the Deputy Commissioners concerned to complete the list of the affected families on this count and distribute the compensation to them immediately under the SDRF norms”, he directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

Ramsu (Ramban), October 9
It has been more than a month since the 172.65-km Gangru Ramsu stretch of National Highway (NH)-44 sunk and got washed away in the Bisleri nullah, but it continues to be a nightmare for commuters.

The stretch gave way on September 4 following incessant rain since September 2. Boulders and soil have been intermittently rolling on to the road, resulting in disruption of vehicular traffic and snarls.

Besides posing a threat to lives and vehicles, it has been giving sleepless nights to the Beacon authorities and the traffic police. There has not been any report of injury yet.

A Tata vehicle was badly damaged and a truck almost rolled down into the nullah on October 2 due to rolling of stones.

The stretch was opened to one-way traffic on September 16 after work by the Beacon staff after 12 days of blockade. A new stretch was carved out with use of heavy machinery in view of floods in the Valley. “We have sought time from October 10 to 12 to blast the fragile hill and get rid of the recurring threat of rolling stones,” said SK Meena, Officer Commanding, 52 RCC of the GREF.

Srinagar, October 9
Deputy Election Commissioner of India Vinod Zutshi held discussions with leaders of various political parties and the civil administration on the possibility of holding Assembly elections following recent floods.

Leaders of the National Conference (NC), the Congress and other parties Thursday held meetings with the Election Commission officials.

The NC sought deferment of Assembly elections and said time was not ripe for conducting elections in the state.The Congress was yet to arrive at a decision.

An NC delegation comprising general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Jammu provincial president Devender Singh Rana and Kashmir provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani met Zutshi.

“Time is not ripe for elections as the atmosphere is not congenial due to devastation caused by floods and trauma and shock people are in,” the NC delegation told Zutshi, who was on a visit to the state.

It said the top priority should be relief, rehabilitation and welfare and not elections. It apprised Zutshi of devastation caused by the floods across the state last month.

The Congress was represented by Tourism Minister GA Mir, who held detailed discussions with the Election Commission officials.

The recent floods had caused a number of problems for the people and the coalition government in the state, a senior party leader told The Tribune.

He added that the Congress was aware of the problems being faced by the people due to the floods and it would not be feasible to go in for elections at this juncture.

Considering that President’s rule could be an option at this juncture, the Congress said it would not be helpful in view of the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken following the recent floods.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) favoured conducting of elections on time. The term of the present Assembly would end on January 19 next year.

Party chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar and former minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir met the Election Commission Thursday.

Panjote/Dab Sudan Camp (Kanachak), October 9
A live 82-mm mortar shell lies buried close to a panchayat ghar almost on the Zero Line. There is a Pakistani tower-cum bunker nearly 80 feet high just 500 metres away. Camouflaged in wild vegetation, it sprayed high trajectory weapons and machine gun fire Wednesday night.

“We are under watch of their snipers inside the tower. They seldom opened fire during the day in the past. This time, we are not so sure amid the indiscriminate firing,” says 53-year old Vikram Khajuria.

Accompanied by five youths, he took a team of The Tribune to the site where the mortar was buried in the field of Joginderpal Sharma of Dab Sudan Camp.

The panchyat ghar was constructed for the use of nearly 8,000 residents of Panjote, Panjote Camp, Dab Sudan, Dab Sudan Camp, Dab Ditta and Bhatian villages in the Kanachak sub-sector of Jammu district.

“This panchayat ghar is a perfect example of an imperfect exercise by the state government officials. They were perhaps were out of their mind while selecting the location right on the Zero Line,” he said.

Sardari Lal (62) of Panjote Camp said, “The building was constructed a year back at a cost of Rs 40 lakh and inaugurated four months ago by the local MLA. None ever gave a thought to its location, barely 400 metres from the Zero Line and 500 metres from the Pakistani bunker.”

None from the Rural Development Department had sought their opinion, he rued. As villages and hamlets wore a deserted look and become ghost villages, the Pakistani bunker beneath the tower had been raining mortars and bullets, he said. One could imagine the fate of the panchyat ghar, he added.

Sukhdev Raj (73) of Panjote said, “ Pakistan can easily blow it up like a pack of cards any time with a shell or two.” He said the live mortar was fired by Pakistan on the night of October 6.

“It did not explode and remained buried in a farm close to the panchyat ghar. We had informed the Army, but it came up with the bizarre response that detonating it now might lead to shelling by Pakistan,” he added.

Srinagar, October 9
A resident of the city’s Kanipora locality has died while five others have been injured in separate road accidents across the Valley, the police said today.

Haroon Ahmad Nadaf, a resident of Kanipora locality of the city, died when the scooter he was driving collided with a load carrier at Mujgund Parimpora on the outskirts of the city.

A police spokesman said three people, including Nadaf and two pillion riders, were injured in the collision and were shifted to SKIMS hospital where Nadaf succumbed to his injuries.

In another accident, a resident of Batamaloo, Owais Ahmad, was injured when his motorcycle collided with a car at Cheerwan in Ganderbal district. The motorcyclist was injured in the collision and was shifted to SMHS Hospital, the spokesman said. Two others, including a woman, were injured in separate road accidents in Kulgam and Kupwara district. 

Srinagar, October 9
To cater to the increasing rush of patients after floods, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has thrown its “sarai” open to accommodate patients.

“We have thrown open SKIMS sarai for emergency and critically ill patients which has increased manifold due to the recent floods,” a hospital official said.

Director, SKIMS, Dr Showkat Ali Zargar said, “SKIMS sarai has been converted into a mini-hospital to cater patient rush. There is huge load of neonates, small children and newborn. Every day, we conduct at least 56 deliveries and 20-25 caesarean operations. Therefore, SKIMS sarai has been converted into a mini-hospital that runs day-care cancer ward where 40-50 patients receive chemotherapy every day and gynaecology cases are also being monitored,” the Director said.

The officials say the institute on an average admits 90 to 120 critically ill newborns. To cope up with the paediatric rush, two additional wards have been made functional which includes critical care and 10-bedded ICU.

“Besides, to avoid any inconvenience the newly constructed emergency extension with a capacity of 22 patients is also being utilised for patients and space for 140 additional beds have been created in the main hospital,” the director added.

In the wake of flood chaos, SKIMS had restricted admissions to cancer and critically ill patients, but the officials say elective/routine admissions are now open.

“SKIMS, Soura, is fully functional and all labs and other essential and emergency units are functional. All doctors, including residents, PGs and paramedic staff, are on duty and are providing all necessary medical assistance to the patients,” the director said. 

Srinagar, October 9
Slamming a news portal for claiming that he had complained to filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj about the movie “Haider”, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he has not even seen the film, following which the web post was removed.

News website oneindia.com allegedly carried a news report of Omar disliking the film and having written to Bhardawaj.

The Chief Minister denied the allegations and tweeted that he hasn’t even seen Haider.

Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter, “So this website has to be awarded for the most amazing work of fiction I’ve seen in a very long time. Let’s be very clear I haven’t seen Haider, I don’t know when & even if I’ll get down to seeing it much less writing to Vishal about it. So where oneindia.in heard that I’d seen the movie & proceeded to complain to Vishal about it I’ll never know. I expect a retraction.”

An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s famous drama Hamlet, Vishal Bhardwaj has tried to portray the story of violence and innocence during turbulent periods in Kashmir through “Haider”. The movie has been co-scripted by talented Kashmiri writer Basharat Peer whose book ‘Curfewed Nights’ had been very well received by both readers and critics.

The website immediately withdrew the news story after Omar’s tweet. 

Srinagar, October 9
Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar reviewed the traffic management in the state in a meeting held at the police headquarters here today.

Kumar stressed on the need for joint efforts to ensure better traffic management and road safety in the state. The state police chief said all stakeholders have to chalk out a comprehensive mechanism to avert traffic jams and road accidents.

The police chief said traffic management had become a daunting task and adoption of latest equipment was imperative to manage the surface traffic efficiently.

“The recent devastating floods in the Valley have worsened the road connectivity, putting the commuters in trouble. Many roads were washed out and bridges and culverts damaged posing a challenging task for the traffic police to regulate the traffic,” the DGP said.

Kumar asked the traffic officers to monitor the working of the field staff effectively on day-to-day basis saying that better supervision was imperative to ensure road safety and convenience of the people. He called for regular review meetings of the officers concerned at different levels involving transporters and agencies concerned to bring out desired results.