Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 14: Army today said it would relocate its ammunition dumps, posts and bunkers at many places along the Line of Control (LoC), which have been worst affected by the floods and added that its engineers were on the job to repair nearly 10 kilometers long fencing along the LoC that was washed away in the worst floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that a number of posts and bunkers of the Army apart from the border fencing have suffered damage in the State along the LoC. Without waiting, the Army Engineers immediately swung into action and started repair work as it had “sufficient stock’’ of “defence bricks’’ with it.
“We have learnt lessons from the floods. Therefore, we are relocating our ammunition dumps, posts and bunkers, which have been damaged in the flood to such places, where they remain safe even if the worst floods strike the State. Our strategy is in place and our engineers are working accordingly,’’ sources said.
They added that the work on relocation of ammunition depots, bunkers and posts was launched immediately after they were damaged by the floods as a decision was taken that rebuilding them at the same place wouldn’t be appropriate as similar floods could strike anytime. Therefore, they said, a decision was taken to relocate the ammunition dumps, posts and bunkers, which have been damaged by the floods in the recent heavy rains along the LoC.
Sources said about 10 kilometers fencing on the LoC has been washed away or damage in the floods in Pargwal and Akhnoor sectors. However, immediately after the fencing was washed away, the Army Engineers initiated steps to install new fencing and undertake repair works.
“Incidentally, the fencing was washed away or damaged at the places, which were not traditional infiltration routes but taking no chances the troops stepped up patrolling in the areas to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to take advantage of the situation and infiltrate into this side,’’ they added.
According to sources, taking lessons from the floods, the Army has also prepared contingency plan for the troops in case such calamity struck again. But, the troops were relocating their ammunition dumps, bunkers and posts in such a way that they wouldn’t be affected even in case of worst floods as troops were drastically raising their heights without affecting surveillance.
“Hopefully in the next fortnight, everything would be set right by the Army. The fencing will be re-constructed, posts, bunkers and ammunition dumps, hit by the worst affected floods, would be relocated very shortly with more safety measures against the floods and heavy rains,’’ sources said.
They pointed out that Army was going to conduct a study for some of the ammunition dumps, bunkers and posts located along the embankments or which were prone to the floods but survived the present flood fury. “Some of these posts could also be relocated,’’ they said.
Meanwhile, the Army engineers have also decided to work out a new alignment of at least 250 meters at Ramsu on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway to restore it for vehicular movement.
After 11 days massive efforts put in by Army engineers and BRO personnel, it has been decided that at least 250 meters alignment of the highway will have to be changed at Ramsu, about 172 kilometers from here to make it function.
“Work on new alignment has started but it could take 4-5 days to make the highway functional,’’ sources said. The highway remained closed for 11th consecutive day today.
Army, meanwhile, continued to trans-ship the people from Srinagar to Ramsu and then Ramsu to Udhampur and Jammu. More than 35,000 persons have been rescued so far using trans-shipment, sources said.
Source said the trans-shipment of passengers was also affected as overnight rains washed away a portion of road. However, Army constructed a foot bridge over Bichleri Nullah and restored trans-shipment.
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