Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 14: The tall claims of State Government and the respective District Administrations have been exposed as the recent rains and flood victims from Thannamandi in Rajouri and parts of Mahore in Reasi, have been forced to face the brunt of fresh rain and cold weather, even after the passage of 40 days of the tragedy.
The eight hapless families of Ward No. 13 of Thannamandi town in district Rajouri, where 13 persons were killed in the land slides, have not been provided tents and even the ration, as promised by the Government. They are still waiting for shelter (tents) and free ration as assured by the District Administration. The tragedy struck the town on September 5, at around 10.30 am when it was raining heavily. An elderly villager from Mangota who had taken shelter for some time in view of rain, also perished in the slide.
Six members from the family of Mehmood Khan, four from Nazarat Hussain, two from Abdul Rashid of Ward No 13, Thannamandi besides an elderly villager from Magota were killed in the land-slide. About eight families were shifted to the safer locations by the local Administration. Some took shelter in the neighbourhood while a few with the help of plastic sheets raised temporary shelters at their own. The fresh rain and cold wave since this morning, has made the life of these people miserable. They lodged their strong protest with the local administration and even brought the SDPO Thannamandi to the site and showed him their condition amidst rain.
A few members of the affected families, who spoke to the Excelsior alleged that not even a single affected family was provided tent till today. Forty days have passed and now rains and cold weather has started. The DC, ADC, SSP Rajouri and even other officers had visited the site on the day of tragedy. The DC, Rajouri had directed the TSO Thannamandi to provide two bags of rice and one bag of Atta to these families but after some days one bag of rice was provided and for that money was charged as per APL rate.
The families are still waiting for tents and six months free ration. They said only cheques worth Rs 1.50 lakh per deceased were distributed by the Administration on the fateful day on the spot. It has been learnt that several NGOs along with relief material loaded in trucks and mini-trucks arrived at Rajouri and Thannamandi area but where this material has gone, no body knows. The matter is required to be investigated, they maintained.
One Mohd Sadiq, who lost his son and three other members virtually broke down while narrating his tale of woe. “Tell me where is the Government. Nearly, one and half month has passed. We are sitting in the open. They provided just a thin plastic sheet and one blanket for the family and no ration. The neighbours are good who have given some space. All those top leaders and officers who visited us only offered lip sympathy and nothing more,” the elderly man maintained.
The victim Bashir Ahmed alleged, “We are unable to understand where the relief material donated by several NGOs for victims has gone. To whom it has been distributed and who were the officials who were instrumental in the process. It was learnt that tents will be provided to all the people who lost their houses but not even single tent was provided here in Thannamandi area. Many top leaders from Chief Minister to former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ajay Sadhotra, Devender Rana, Dr Jitendra Singh, Shabir Khan MLA, Ch Talib Hussain and others came to express their sympathy. But we saw their photos on TVs and newspapers visiting us but we got just false assurances. They came here only for the their votes and publicity, the poor victims were only shown thumb,” he added.
One Abdul Rashid, who also lost his two members in the incident alleged malpractice in the distribution of material. He said some tents were learnt to have reached Thannamandi but were not distributed by the Tehsil staff. He alleged that one day Revenue officials of Thannamandi had called three families for providing tents. They were asked to sign a paper for one tent but they refused to do it on the ground that three families can not live in single tent. There is need to investigate the matter and streamline the system of relief distribution.
He further said the people were provided single thin plastic sheet and two blankets which are not sufficient. Rashid further said that with the land-slides in the area eight houses were totally damaged while cracks have been developed in several others, forcing people to stay away from unsafe houses. Sufficient number of tents are needed to be provided. Rashid said that they were living in the house of one Mohd Iqbal. Some of the household items have been kept in the open covered with plastic sheets. He said that his two brothers Abdul Hamid and Abdul Kabir are also facing the same situation. Mehmood Khan victim, also leveled charges of neglect by the District Administration and alleged that in the cold and rain, the families were forced to face the brunt of harsh weather. He said no free ration, blankets or other things were provided while they have lost everything in the house collapse.
One Sarfraz from Karyot village in Thannamandi said that besides him, three more families of Master Abdul Ghani, Nissar and Ghulam Qadir have turned houseless. No tents have been provided. He said the families were given just one kilogram onion, one kg pulses, two kg Atta, one plastic sheet and two biscuit packets. Army provided one blanket and 4 kg rice to each family.
Abdul Qayoom from Manyal Gali alleged that 56 persons of 8 families were taking refuge in four rooms of Panchayat Ghar for the last over 40 days. They have not been provided tents as promised by Administration. Same is the position at Mangota where four families have taken refuge at Primary School building. They too, are waiting for ration and shelters. He alleged that Administration has miserably failed and even after passage of so many days, they are waiting for help. He alleged that only hollow claims of providing relief are being made. From Rajdani village similar information has been given by the Sarpanch Riaz Ahmed. Inadequate quantity of ration was provided to the affected villagers there.
Reports from several areas of Mahore, Gulabgarh and Bhamag area of Reasi revealed that many families were without tents. Some of the families raised temporary shelters by using thin plastic sheets while others were still in Government buildings and schools in rain and cold. In most of the school buildings the windows are broken. The people have been forced to face the brunt of cold weather and rain.
Additional DC Rajouri, Mohd Salim when contacted said that at Thannamandi he himself had gone and the Administration distributed ex-gratia/ relief cheques worth Rs 1.50 lakh for each deceased to the family members. He said one tarpauline/ plastic sheet and blankets were also provided to them. One order was issued to provide two quintal and 10 kilogram of ration to them and SDM Thannamandi is preparing the lists of the beneficiaries/ victims. They have yet to get Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. He said they had no sufficient tents but big tarpauline sheets were provided to them for the shelter. They will also get free ration for six months shortly. Whatever, was available with the Administration, was tried to be distributed among the affected people, the ADC maintained.
Dy Commissioner Reasi, M S Bhat, however, said that 500 tents were provided to the District Administration Reasi by the Red Cross, Army and NGOs. All the tents have been distributed among the victims. Even now, many families have remained without tents. He said that a demand of nearly 400 more tents has been projected with the higher authorities. Out of total, 350 tents were provided in Mahore area. At Malas and Seri the people were given tents and some families are sharing one tent. But due to shortage, many families are still in Government schools or other buildings. Some must have raised their own shelters. These families have been given one month ration but process of distribution more ration for the next 2-3 months has been started, Mr Bhat maintained.
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