Victims demand Punjab, HP type package
Avtar Bhat
UDHAMPUR, Sept 17: While the spread of epidemic haunts the 33 families of village Omara in Sundla Panchayat of Majalta tehsil in district Udhmpur whose houses were totally damaged during landslides trigged by incessant rains in the area on September 3, the flood victims of rest parts of Jammu region are eagerly waiting for their rehabilitation in safer areas with restoration of road network and a relief package on pattern of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh from Centre.
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The problem is not in Majalta tehsil of Udhampur district only but in many remote villages of Jammu region including Basohli tehsil in Kathua district where houses of people were either fully or partially damaged in the cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides and they too face the same problem like the people in Majalta village.
In Kathua’s Janglot area, six families whose houses were totally damaged in cloudburst last month have not been provided any compensation. All these six families are living with their relatives as authorities are yet to take measures for their safe rehabilitation, said Shakti Kumar a local resident.
He demanded compensation for the people and appealed Government of India to announce package on the pattern of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh for the people of J&K. Jasvir of Dilwan in Kathua whose house and shop was also damaged said the condition of his family is miserable as his shop on which he had invested lakhs of rupees to earn his living has been totally turned into rubble during the cloudburst. He said four houses were damaged in the village due to cloudburst last month.
Amit Mehra socio-political activist said houses of hundreds of families in over two dozen villages of Basohli tehsil have been damaged in flash floods, landslides and heavy rains. Besides link roads and bridges in some of the villages were also washed away while some roads are blocked due to landslide. He said Khaddi, Hutt, Draman, Danna, Janau, Bhoond, Bhakar, Slyalag, Nagaali, Ghoral, Dhar Jhankar, Jandraali, Dodala, Sandar and many other villages are worst effected where hundreds of houses have either been fully damaged or have developed cracks. The water stacked in some areas is posing the threat of epidemic, he added.
The floods and heavy rains created a lot of devastation in border belt of Kathua and Samba districts where standing crops on agriculture land were washed away by Ujh, Tarnah rivers and their tributaries besides damaging residential houses in various areas.
In Rajpura, Hiranagar and Samba tehsil, the people are worst affected, said Rishpal Verma a senior BJP leader and former VC. Jaidev Singh, a Kissan leader, however, termed this tragedy totally man made saying after the construction of Ranjit Sagar dam people in low-lying areas of Lakhanpur and Keriyan Gandyal thought that the river will never be over flooded now. They removed the bandhs along the river, lifted crates etc and sold them with the result this time many villages faced flood furry and hundreds of kanals of agriculture land got damaged.
In Pargwal area of Akhnoor tehsil, flood waters of Chenab have also created a havoc inundating the low lying areas and washing away the agriculture land destroying the entire crop of vegetables , paddy and maize with the result the lives of people have been turned in despair, said Raman Singh, Kissan Morcha general secretary. He said houses in many villages have developed cracks and people are in panic. They even face epidemic threat with rain water getting stacked in ditches and low-lying areas.
He said the road linking Pargwal to Jammu and Akhnoor near Chicken Neck has been washed away and the area is cut off. “The Pargwal is facing a peculiar situation as from one side we are facing the border with Pakistan and on the other side mighty Chenab. During border skirmishes the people here become the target of shelling from across and during floods they face devastation”.
He expressed his dismay over the delay in construction of Indri Pattan bridge on river Chenab which would have been an alternative road to join the area with Akhnoor. This bridge has been delayed for decades with the result the problems of people are compounding day by day, he added.
According to residents of the Omara in Majalta tehsil of Udhampur about 33 residential houses were totally damaged on the fateful day in landslides which eroded about 900 kanals of land in this hamlet forcing people to pass the days in the open sky.
“We had struggled throughout our lives to construct the houses to lead a happy and dignified life but our all hopes were dashed to ground when in a single day our residential houses were turned into rubble after hit by landslides as about 900 kanals of land in the village got eroded,” said Rahem Din, an ex Armyman whose concrete house of over 6000 square feet was totally buried under the debris. Rahem Din said that still it was the grace of God that the villagers were saved as they managed to flee from their houses after sensing danger.
“The villagers are living under the open sky since then. The administration has provided tents but they don’t suffice entire population of the village. Fifteen to 20 members are putting in a single tent and it is very difficult for us to manage in such a small place where we have to cook meals as well as sit and sleep”, said, Angrez Singh another landslide victim whose pucca house has also been totally damaged on the ill fated day.
He said “The September 3 landslide spelled a doom for the entire hamlet and within no time we lost everything including our houses as well as household goods and turned beggars over night now depending on the help and support of others to survive”.
Angrez Singh, also an ex Serviceman said his house having eight rooms has totally turned into rubble and got buried under the landslide. “We could not bring even a bucket as all household goods too were buried in the ground”, he added adding 30 kanals of his agriculture land which was on a slope also got eroded.
Same was the story of Sadiq Ali, another victim in this hamlet. Sadiq, was doing a small business and running a tractor to earn his living. Like other villagers, September 3, spelled a doom for him and his family as his house which had been constructed just two months back was totally damaged in landslide. “Besides my house, my father Bagh Ali’s house which was adjacent to my residence was also damaged in the natural calamity on the fateful day forcing us to pass the days under the open sky,” he added.
He said his goat was also buried alive in the landslide while his tractor got fully damaged as it too was buried in rubble and muck. He said over 200 people of 33 families have been hit by landslide and they are presently passing the days under the open sky.
The authorities provided us tents but they are not sufficient, said Rahem Din. He said the Revenue authorities including ACR Udhampur and Tehsildar Majalta along with other Revenue officers visited the area and prepared a report of loss but so far no compensation or ex-gratia has been paid.
He said some NGOs came forward and provided food and clothes to the affected people. “It is with their support that we are surviving today. All the houses damaged were concrete. Besides my house, another pucca house which was like a mansion having slab area of 4700 sq feet too turned into rubble in the natural disaster,” he added.
He said 20 to 25 pet animals including buffalos, cows and goats died as they were buried under debris. He said the authorities have also evicted other 32 families in the village as their houses have been declared in the Red zone and they too have been shifted into tented accommodations.
The effected people demanded immediate allotment of land at safer places with construction of houses having facilities of drinking water roads and electricity so that they will not face such a problem in the near future.
They said that, presently in their makeshift arrangements there is no facility of pure drinking water, bathrooms, lavatories. Total insanitation prevails which can lead to spread of epidemic. Some people have already been hospitalised after taking contaminated water, he added.
However, the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Udhampur Saloni Rai told Excelsior that Department has conducted a survey of the village through a team officials and the report of compensation has been framed. She exuded confidence that the effected villagers will be paid compensation by this week.
She said the Department at the first instance provided tents and ration etc to affected people and the compensation for damage will also be provided soon.
Caption: A view of Omara village in Sundla Panchayat of Udhampur district which was hit by landslide on September 3.
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