KD Maini
Poonch, the border district of J&K generally known for cross LOC tensions and incidents has been badly shaken by recent five days continuous torrential rains, cloud burst, landslides, land erosions and flood in Poonch river and other streams and village Nallahs. The normal life in almost all 174 inhabited villages has been affected badly due to this natural calamity while the lower part of historic Poonch town towards river side has been completely washed away. There is no doubt that prompt actions by District administration restricted casualties to 27 persons and injuries to 65 persons but there is a heavy loss of residential houses, cattle, movable property, agriculture land, khrief crops apart from large scale destruction of infrastructure like water and power supply, roads, protection bunds, irrigation khuls and school buildings. This type of calamity and disaster have never been witnessed by the habitants of Poonch district during last 80 years. The natives of every village have tales of pain, sorrow and miseries to tell while five habitations of Poonch town towards river side were the main target of flooded Poonch river. Near about 375 houses have either been washed away, have turned unsafe or not livable now. 51 km long paddy field strip and scattered houses alongside Poonch river from Saillian upto Line of Control Tatri Note have been hit by heavy floods in Poonch river. The wounds of the calamity are so deep that it may take years to bring back life on the track.
As per the information received from the administration 1720 Kachha houses have been destroyed fully, 3402 destroyed partially and the remaining kachha houses also need repairs to live in. Since 34 percent population of the district is living below the poverty line, this population was mostly residing in the kachha houses and they became the main sufferers. On the other hand, 572 pacca houses.
69 percent agriculture land of Poonch district is located on the slopes of the mountains. Normally kharif crop is possible in this area due to cold climatic conditions. Maize is the principle crop which is grown on 22000 hectare land out of 29000 hectare agriculture land of the district. This crop was approaching to harvesting season. However due to heavy rains, winds, cloud burst and stormy conditions maize crop was affected badly. On the other hand, there were 4500 hectare irrigated land alongside rivers, where paddy was sown. Large part of this land was either washed away or came under flood water which spoiled the crops.As per the estimates of District administration 28298 kanal agriculture land has been washed away, eroded or came under heavy land slide which has increased the sufferings of small and marginal farmers.
The major victim of flood in Poonch was southern part of historic Poonch city extended upto the bank of the river. On 4th of September, the flooded water in Poonch river changed its course about two km above the Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge and entered the lower habitations of Poonch town and agriculture fields after breaking four protection bunds starting from Qazi Mohra, Police Line, Dungus locality, Sher-e-Kashmir locality, Shanker Nagar extension area, Azad Mohalla extension area and fish pond habitation located towards river side. Apart from agriculture land, 375 houses have either been washed away or not livable now. These extended colonies were mostly inhabited by labour class families. These families had gradually migrated from remote and border native villages after selling their houses, land holdings and cattles. Most of them purchased a small space in these areas and constructed one or two room accommodation with the hope of better life avenues and education for their children. These habitations have been completely destroyed by the flood water. There is no possibility of reconstruction in this area. The labour class family residing there has been ruined because they have already sold their property in the villages and are not in a position to purchase the land and construct their houses. There is no limit to sorrow and sufferings of these families. Presently District administration have accommodated such families in six relief camp in Poonch town where all arrangements for their food, bedding, medicines and other needed items have been made. A shift school for the children of these displaced families has also been started in Gujjar hostel Poonch. Similarly two relief camps for the migrants of Bela area have been setup at Surankote and four such camps for the displaced families of Mendhar Tehsil have been established in Mendhar town. The affected families are worried about their future.
Parveen Akhter with 12 member family of Shanker Nagar extension area is now in Gujjar Hostel relief camp. She told that about three years back her family shifted from Shahpur after selling their property and purchased two marla land in this colony and constructed a small house where the whole family was accommodated. The male members were engaged in labour oriented works. The full family was stranded in the flood area from where District administration had protected them after great efforts. Two hermits and two horse grazers namely Faiz Hussain and Bansi Lal were drowned in the flood in this locality. Their dead bodies have not been recovered so of. There is apprehension that these dead bodies might have floated across the Line of Actual Control.
Nazir Hussain, a labourer of Mendhar area was residing in fish pond locality in Azad Mohalla near the river side along with 52 other labourer families who constructed their small houses in this area. He told that eleven houses have been washed away and rest or not worth living. Most of these families have been shifted to relief camps and waiting for the revival of their normal life.
Sayad Anwer Hussain Shah originally belonging to Surankote area had purchased a plot in a habitation near Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge and constructed a good house. 45 other big and small houses were also located there which includes multi storey house of Warden Pharai Hostel Poonch, rented office building of Poonch Development Authority, service station, shopping complex was also existing in this area. This locality came under heavy flood water of Poonch river and washed away. Mr. Shah told that the whole irrigated area from Dungus Sher-e-Kashmir bridge along with 200 meter road linking Poonch town to Sher-e-Kashmir bridge is also eroded. As per Mr. Shah, he had purchased a costly plot and constructed a good house with the satisfaction that four protection bunds were located beyond this locality for the protection of floods, out of which one big protection bund was constructed after spending crores of rupees out of BRGF scheme. However, all these bunds disappeared in a second because the construction was not as per specification. The stones, sand and mulba of these bunds hit hard these houses which became the main cause of destruction of this locality. He raised the question what is the fun of construction of such substandard bunds which cannot protect the area from floods.
As regard the infrastructure, 84 out of 128 water supply schemes have been a effected. 82 irrigation khuls out of 111 khuls are damaged. 128 flood protection works destroyed. 65 school buildings affected. 105 km road washed away.
The DDC Poonch Mohd Hussain Malik told that the District administration was quite active from the day one floods strated onwards. 910 persons were rescued from the floods, 3193 persons were evacuated and lodged in twelve relief camps i.e. six in Poonch town, two at Surankote and four at Mendhar. All efforts have been made to provide help to needed persons. In spite of damages to three main bridges Jammu-Poonch road, Poonch-Mendhar road and Poonch-Mandi road have been opened. Power and water supply in Poonch town, Mandi Mendhar and Surankote has been restored temporarily. All efforts are being made to provide such facilities in the remote areas also. Pubic distribution system has been geared up and the essential commodities, like gas, ration and k. oil in the villages has been ensured. The Mughal road have also been opened. As regards the assessment of damages and relief it is estimated that 150 crore are needed for district Poonch. The proposal in this regard is being sent to Government for release of funds.
The Central Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also visited the affected areas of Poonch district and met the victims of calamity. Mr. Abdullah in a meeting at Poonch assured the affected people that all possible help shall be provided to them to review their life. While appreciating the prompt action of District administration during the calamity he asked for immediate submission of demands of funds for relief and proper rehabilitation of the affected families.Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that there is no dearth of funds for the flood victims of J&K State and with the efforts of the people, Kashmir shall again be converted into the Paradise.
The flood affected victims feel harassed and frightened due to heavy loses. There problems and miseries are very grave and unique which need special and urgent attention of the Government to reduce their pain and sorrow. The victims demand that the relief and re-habilitation package may be provided on the pattern of flood victims of Ladakh where such calamity had occurred two years back. They are also representing that colonies for displaced and uprooted families may be established in the safer places at proper Poonch, Surankote and Mendhar. The relief for damaged houses crops and washed away land may be released immediately so that they could start their life anew. No doubt, that the people of Poonch district are very brave, and courageous, they know how to stand on their feet.However, the wounds of the calamity are so deep and severe that these could can’t be healed without proper financial assistance and special relief and re-habitation package from the Govt. They are waiting for such initiatives.
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