Parmjit Singh
Our country comprises of 28 states, 9 union territories and 800 districts . Our country has vast area spread all over and has approximately 145 crores people living in it and living happily, come what may. Our country India is a country of diverse cultures, customs and traditions, religions, races , colors , castes , languages . Despite all this , our people are blended together. Further more are blessed , love each other and live together . Our people believe in unity in diversity .
Whatever one may call , but our country with a huge population causes huge demand for land . The land is required to settle refugees, migrant laborers at times and forced eviction of population from some areas due to whatever reasons. Also, people from far flung areas or from border areas migrate to settle in cities ( considering it a safer place due to safety reasons , away from enemy heavy shelling oblique bombardment ) . Construction of various infrastructures in the form of hospitals, schools, colleges, universities , courts , widening of roads to 4 to 8 laning , construction of defense roads and ring roads, construction of tunnels , construction of bridges and such other construction commensurating with the desired requirement or need to provide basic facilities for the welfare of general public, an unavoidable requirement. Therefore the vegetation cover overall gets reduced/ denuded and the same also affects the climatic conditions/ pattern in a particular area or region.
Huge population causes huge demand for land. Those people who are poor and cannot afford to buy land where it is more safe as the land in such places is costlier. Therefore such people decide to buy land along the banks of river , nullah and canal beds or all along the spurs which proportionately , vis-a- vis is little cheaper. Also, at places people settle along the hill features on the lower slopes or at places where exist loose rocks called sedimentary rocks as per the study of rocks ( composition, structure and origin of rocks), called petrology which are more prone to slip away due to wet weather which may cause a landslide. A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a sloped section of land. Landslide are caused by heavy rains, earthquakes , volcanoes , or other factors which make the slope unstable. Such landslides due to
heavy rains cause avoidable damage , destruction or devastation of livestock, humans and any other infrastructure , whatever comes in the way of landslides.
In India we often hear cloud burst, flooding, landslides and hear of it more often in Indian state of Sikkim but sharing long border with Bhutan nothing of sort happens as the forest cover is intact. Wherever the forest cover is denuded or is reduced, there the chances of land sliding are more prominent to occur.
Keeping in view the natural tragedies which have occurred in chashoti, kishtwar due to cloudburst and caused huge damages to humans, livestock and property and followed by cloudburst at four places in kathua Distt, which has also caused loss of humans , livestock and property. Corrective measures in place is the need of the hour to minimize losses of humans, livestock , property and other infrastructure. Government can think of shifting these affected people to safer places. Kyonki JAAN HAI TOH JAHAN HAI.
The SDRF / NDRF teams must be so located beforehand itself that these teams are readily accessible and immediately available. Don’t wait for the tragedy to occur and thereafter order movement of such teams which is of not much use as such a move causes avoidable delay.
Proper coordination among various agencies like Army and others ( PMF- CISF, BSF, POLICE , JKESL and local volunteers ) must be tied up well beforehand so as to ensure minimum loss of time to conduct relief and rescue operations to save precious human lives and property.
Placing of readily available columns beforehand at pre designated locations to carry out immediate relief and rescue operations.
Placing of usable and serviceable equipment well in advance at places at central location for immediate use.
Placing of trained medical teams and other medical equipment fully functional and serviceable at places much beforehand the tragedy strikes, so that immediately response is readily available, which will help in minimizing losses of lives and property.
Pre planning and well in advance training is very important step in the right direction . Planning and preparation in advance definitely will pay dividends to minimize losses of lives and property.
Fully tested , foolproof and reliable communication systems must be in place in advance . Last minute planning is KNEE JERK ACTION is unwarranted and will not be of much use in such tragic situations.
Don’t permit settlements along the valleys or along the rivers , nallas or canal banks. Also , don’t allow settlements to come up along the spurs or slopes of hills, cliffs or mountains.
More important aspect to be kept in mind is that the locals be guided through talks , spoken to , or make them aware through local administration ( DCs, DIV COMs SDMs , panchs , Sarpanchs MLAs MPs or local bodies) of the later on consequences as it has happened / occurred now in case of kishtwar or Kathua.
Come what may, the placing of serviceable equipment ( may include vehicles) , trained manpower ( NDRF/ SDRF and other manpower resources) including medical teams at pre designated locations will pay rich dividends to carry out immediate relief and rescue operations. This will definitely minimize losses of humans and property. Government and its trained personnel and locals must be pro active. Because delay will prove murderous. Each one teach one . Each one must cooperate and support during such tragedies voluntarily so that precious human lives could be saved.
JKESL personnel under the able guidance and leadership of Lt Gen RK Sharma, AVSM,SM, President JKESL were directed to assist the civil administration in relief and rescue operations . The JKESL personnel received accolades and appreciation from many quarters for their timely , selfless and flawless help. The JKESL personnel worked shoulder to shoulder with the civil administration in the hour of need and unbearable emotional pain. The appreciations or accolades received are substantiated underneath:-
The team JKESL Udhampur interacted with the family members of Hav Ramesh Kumar who lost his life in Chishoti, Kishtwar,cloud burst tragedy.The family members were assured of all the assistance and also apprised them about their entitlements. JKESL is doing a selfless service for the Ex-servicemen and Veer Naris.Well done team JKESL.
Indeed, it’s our must duty to provide support and guidance to our Ex-Servicemen and Veer Naris, as well as their dependents. JKESL is always ready, 24*7 to serve and assist our veterans and their families, ensuring their welfare and well-being remain our top priority. Jai Hind.
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