Designated schools, community halls to have all facilities
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 7: In the wake of Pakistani shelling in forward areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts today, the authorities have issued advisories to people living near Zero Line on International Border right from Khour tehsil in Jammu district up to Hiranagar and Pahadpur sectors in Kathua district to shift to safer places designated by them for their shelter and security.
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Sources said hundreds of people in border belt have also been evacuated to safer places to avoid any eventuality in the wake of firing from across the border in view of prevailing tension between India and Pakistan after the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 tourists and a local were killed.
The authorities have put official machinery on high alert in all the three border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua asking them to remain in touch with village heads, social activists and other public representatives and ensure their evacuation to safer places, sources said. The administration has designated schools and community halls etc in safer areas in all the three districts where the border people are to be evacuated, sources added.
Sources said in the villages near Zero Line where pacca bunkers have been constructed people were asked to take refuge in the bunkers and not to move out of them in the event of border firing from across.
The authorities have also framed the border evacuation plan in the respective three districts with facilities for food, water, electricity matting, bedding and toilet facilities. The authorities have also appointed incharges for transport for respective border villages where from eviction of people is necessitated and identified the routes for evacuation of people with vehicles hired for the purpose.
In addition to this in the advisory the contact details of evacuation team including ex-sarpanches, VLWs and numbardars have been given with names of contact of camp commandant and his team, names and contact of the medical team, names of dealers and sales men including gas agencies and names and contact numbers of officials of animal husbandry.
This advisory has been issued in border belt of Khour-Chhamb, Pargwal, Arnia, Suchetgarh, in Jammu district and Ramgarh, Kheri Rehal, Nandpur and other borer villages of Samba district and Hiranagar and Pahadpur sectors in Kathua district.
For evacuation of people from border belt of Khour, the administration held a meeting at Panchayat Gadkhal and informed the people of the safety measures to be taken. The people were asked that they have to shift to safer places where the Government has made all the arrangements of food and shelter etc. They were informed that the transportation arrangements have also been made by the authorities and people have to take their luggage and board the vehicles for the safer places.
The people were informed that it was not appropriate for them to stay in the border belt as firing can start at any time hence they should shift to safer places for their security. They were also told that the people who want to stay to take the care of their cattle should sit in bunkers for their safety. The administration has set up a camp near Degree College Bhalwal Ring road, informed Mukhtiyar Ahmed SDM Akhnoor during the meeting. Another meeting was held in border area of Pargwal for six Panchayats. Some people have shifted to safer places and residences of their relatives.
The evacuation process has also started in border belt of Samba where the authorities have identified the shelter homes in safer areas for shifting of people residing near Zero Line. By the night, all villages near defence ditch were evacuated.
Mohan Singh Bhatti, president Border Kissan Union Ramgarh said that advisory has been issued by District Development Commissioner, Samba asking the people of border belt to remain alert and shift to identified school buildings and community halls in safer places. He said the concerned Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar and Patwaris visited the border belt and conveyed them what measures they are needed for safety. “The people in forward area were the concrete bunkers have been constructed were told to take refuge in these bunkers and not to venture out of them in case of shelling from across”.
However, he said, the morale of border people is very high and they are appreciating the action of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Indian Army and Air Force. The people want that it should be a decisive battle once and for all. Instead of facing daily tension the issue should be settled once and for all and Pakistan taught a lesson for centuries.
Billu Choudhary, chairman, Chamliyal Committee who also resides in border village of Dug Chhani in Ramgarh sector said that the advisory has been issued and some people in the border belt of Ramgarh have started shifting to safer places. He said the border people want that this problem be settled once and for all. Majority of people in this border belt serve in Army and some are ex-servicemen who again want to go to borders and fight shoulder to shoulder with their Army Jawans against enemy to teach a lesson to Pakistan.
In Pahadpur and Hiranagar sectors of Kathua district, the old and infirm people have been shifted by their family members to the houses of their relatives in safer areas. However, people are alert and have not shifted from their respective villages as yet and they are watching the situation. In the event of firing from across, people in this border belt will take refuge in the bunkers, said Jaidev Singh a Kissan leader of border area. He said “Though tension is there but we don’t see any immediate threat. There are concrete bunkers in the border belt and people can take refuge in the bunkers in the event of firing from across the border and others can shift to safer places designated by the Government,” he added.
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