Encroachment on government land goes unbeatable

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, May 20: Ongoing encroachment of government land by the local people has alarmed the district administration to take necessary steps against these mafias.

In such a glaring example that the land of Government City Middle School Ramban measuring 2 kanals and 1 marla under khasra number 463 is being illegally encroached by the people residing in the surrounding of the school.

According to the school headmaster Trilok Singh around 4 marlas of the school land has been illegally occupied by the people, not only this they have made private path crossing inside the school to reach their houses adding that our woe does not end here but people have destroyed the boundary walls which poses threat to safety and security of the school.

He disclosed number of theft incidents occurred in the schools in which three set of computers and 2 LPG cylinders besides many other things had been stolen.

Sources said if the cases of encroachment and theft have easy access in this school located under the nose of Zonal Education Office (ZEO) Ramban where Chief Education Office (CEO) Ramban was camping earlier, what would be the condition of other government schools of located in remote areas.

Sources further said that if nothing is done urgently, the government schools would turned into private homes and business premises by individuals.

“The school management has lodged the FIR in this regard in concerned PS but till date the police department is unable to resolve the case” added headmaster.

“The Chief Education Officer (CEO) Ramban has filed written complaints many times about such incidents to the district administration, but no action has been initiated  yet” he shares.

The people residing in the surroundings of the school frequently disturb the teaching learning process of the school and affect the studies to a large extent.

When contacted District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Mohammad Aijaz Assad said that he is unaware about the whole matter.

However, he immediately directed the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Ramban and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ramban to curb this menace and take necessary action.

Woes of Kora Dera students, three teachers suspended

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, May 09: To streamline the education system and to provide education to every child at the doorstep, centre as well as state governments have initiated various schemes, but on the later stages failed to monitor the same which hammer the future of children.

According to sources there are number of government education institutes in the rural areas of the state who are badly affected by the casual attitude of the staff and the officials sitting at the helm of affairs forget to keep check their performances.

Government Middle School,Kora Dera in Panchayat Gandhri of district Ramban is one such glaring example of apathetic attitude of the concerned department which has put the future of students at stake.

Sources said that in this school the concerned department had appointed four teachers out of which Ateeq ul Rehman-recently regularized RET, has been regular while as the other two  Robail Atteque- a general line teacher and Shabina Ara-ReT have been habitual absentees and derelict.

One of the student’s fathert Khem Raj alleged that despite his repeated requests to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Ramban for checking the punctuality of teachers nothing has been done so far. He added that he had transferred a teacher Sanjay Singh from this school to Government Primary School,Kherail and posted Mohammad Shafi in his place in this March and even after two months he has not joined .This has also been a cause of concern.

Sheetal Devi a student of 8th class of the school alleged that the teachers are non-serious about their studies and they rarely attend the school due to which they are facing the problems.

She further alleged that one of the teachers rarely attend the school that too very late and leave early.

A deputation of students of the said school with their parents today met the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban,Mohammad Aijaz and highlighted their difficulties owing to the absence of the staff.

After hearing the grievances of the students patiently, he ordered the CEO to suspend the three absent teachers with immediate effect and initiate an enquiry in to the matter headed by Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Ramban and asked them to submit the report within a week but till then they are asked to continue their duties.

Although the CEO has suspended the three teachers including Robail Atteque, Shabina Ara and Ateeq ul Rehman, yet the students alleged that no action has been taken against Mohammad Shafi who has not join the school after his posting there in March instead Ateeq ul Rehman who has been regularly performing his duties was suspended.

GHSS sans accommodation, students suffer

Departments in deep slumber

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, May 05: Contrary the tall claims of the state education department and district administration to provide hassle free education to the students, there are many government education institutes in the state which lacks proper accommodation besides understaffed.

Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Ramban is among one such glaring example of the apathy attitude of the concern department due to which more than 1000 students of the said school are forces to study in compressed atmosphere.

Official sources said that in year 2007 after the formation of district Ramban the district administration has assigned the task to Public Works Department (PWD) to reconstruct the building of the said school by demolish the old building adding that some new rooms and halls were also constructed including 3 rooms for school laboratory, but still students compel to take classes in corridor or even in open sky.

Sources further said that the PWD has completed the Block A by constructed 6 rooms which was inaugurated by the then Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ramban Ashok Kumar on 16-10-2014 as mentioned on the inaugural stone.

Sources added that around three year back the PWD department has started the work on extension building including 3 halls through contractor but till date the work is still undergoing creating worries among students and staff furthermore a teaching staff member has raised the stage and one portion of stairs for the school with his own personal expenses.

Sources disclosed that in year 1976 the school was upgraded from High School to Higher Secondary, but after the completion of 40 years the strength of students about 10 times more that of upgraded time, but the sanctioned post of staff remain same which is also cause of concern.

 

“What is more intriguing is that the education department has even failed to introduce all subjects in this school including Physical Education, Botany, Environmental Science n Commerce stream whereas for Zoology and Economics the department appointed lecturer on contractual basis, moreover for 900 students of English subject there are only one lecturer” they shared.

Sources maintained that adding to their woes the education department has recently transfer the principal to the DIET Batote owing which it is hard to deal with thousands of students without administration.

Simika Butyal a student of science stream of 12^th class said that it is very difficult for to attend the class as there are very less accommodation as to tackle huge strength of students.

She further said that the class rooms are very crowded during the lecture time, and if there is no electricity than it is very difficult for us to study besides humid atmosphere in absence of cross ventilation and lightning.

Another student Shahida Akther of 11^th class said that as the summer is knocking, we are not able to concentrate on our studies as the drainage system is not properly maintained outside the school which producing foul smell.

“The higher officials asked to create a smart class for the students but on the later stage failed to provide the equipments for the same” she added.

When contacted District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Mohammad Aijaz said the work of the construction of extension building was delayed due to the non-payment of bills from the education department, but still the PWD and contractor manage to work. He further said that it will take some more time to complete the work.

Stray animals impede vehicular traffic

MC shrugs responsibility

Tahir Mushtaq 

RAMBAN, Apr 21: People of Ramban town are taken aback by the growing canine and cattle population on the main roads of the highway town which not only impedes vehicular movement, but also poses several other problems before the residents.

Vishav Bandhu Sharma a prominent citizen of Ramban said that huge presence of stray animals causes a lot of discomfort and trouble to the citizens, he lamented and regretted that authorities at the helms of affairs were in deep slumber.

He alleged that due to the negligent attitude of district administration and MC towards the stray animal menace, the people are suffering adding that this is one more reason of frequent animal smuggling and slaughtering.

Gurdeep Singh a local resident said that roads are already groaning under heavy traffic, congestion and road jams especially at peak office and school hours. To this the menace of stray cattle moving about unhindered makes the flow of traffic difficult and at times also one of the causes of road accidents. Not only that the roads at many places get soiled by them. The authorities need to take due measures against the crisis before it is too late. "It is highly unethical on the part of the owners of these cattle to allow them roam freely on roads" he said.

He suggested that there should be a frequent public awareness against this menace in the interests of smooth traffic on our roads and legal action should be taken including imposition of fine on such careless owners of these stray cattle.

When contacted Executive Officer (EO) MC Ramban, Zubaida Begum said the department does not have any arrangement to check the ongoing menace of stray animals.

When asked to penalize the owner of the cattle, she said the department will issue the notice to the respective owners of the animals who leave them to move on the road and affect vehicular traffic.

Construction work of seven Km Chanderkote-Sawni Road hanging in balance for years

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Apr 1: Construction work on 7 Km under construction Chanderkote-Sawni road has been hanging in balance for last many years, confronting residents of the area to gross inconvenience.

Locals alleged that the work on the said road was started around eight years back but no one from the Public Works Department (PWD) visited the site to review the construction work.

Executive Engineer (XEn) PWD Ramban, Amar Singh Katoch repeatedly ducked questions of this correspondent on the status of the road.

Ironically, as per the locals and labourers who were engaged on construction work said that the XEn never visited this site.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Bashir Ahmed Dar when contacted said that he will call an official meeting and discuss the progress in connection with the Chanderkote-Sawni road, and try to find out the reason of delay in completion of the work.

He further said the manually construction work on the said road is time consuming and it will never be finished if done without machinery.

It is pertinent to mention here that from the past about eight years the PWD R&B Department with the financial help of NABARD has started the work of seven kilometer Chanderkote-Sawni road in district Ramban, but due to the negligent attitude of the department the work is still on snail's pace.

The department has approved the work at the estimated cost of Rs 407.09 Crore including the construction of road and compensation of land.

During rainfall the residents of the said area live under constant threat of landslide due to unfinished work.

Pathetic roads reflect negligence of Ramban authorities

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 31: The pathetic condition of road on national highway falling under jurisdiction of Municipal Committee (MC) Ramban clearly shows the negligent approach of the department towards their professional duties.

There are many such roads that are not maintained and repaired from the long time owing which the small pits become death traps for the two wheelers and walkers. Especially the road near bus stand Ramban and Sunari Mohalla becomes the major spot of accidents. At different instances locals alleged that people have to bear the consequences for the casual attitude of the concern departments in one way or the other.

Locals said that during the monsoon season water logging in these parts of road create inconvenience for passerby but the administration has closed its eyes reason best known to them.

Locals further said that the broken stairs near Raghunath Mandir from the past long time besides the stairs reaching Zonal Education Office, District Court Complex, District Hospital and schools also showing the same picture of apathy attitude of the departments.

 

"It is very difficult for us to cross that patch of stairs in night as the damages stairs portion may cause of major untoward said a shopkeeper.

When contacted Executive Officer MC Ramban, Zubaida Begum said that municipal committee is not suppose to repair the roads on National Highway as it is the work of National Highway Authority of India to maintain the damaged roads on national highway.

She further said that the department has projected RS 80 lacs for the repairing work of stairs under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) scheme of centre government but the government has windup the said schemes.

Ongoing work of Telephone Cables Project claims one life

Putting thousands lives at stake daily

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 29: Despite the order of District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban to ban the of National Highway roadside from Banihal to Batote for installation of underground telephone cables, the concern department has overhear it due to which many people have lost their lives from the past four months.

In the recent incident a Mahindra load carrier which is without registration number being rashly, negligently driven with high speed from Jammu to Srinagar when it hit three labourers being engaged in laying of telephone cable on roadside, near CRPF camp Bhoom Chanderkote this morning resulting two critically injured persons whereas one received minor injuries.

 

The two critically injured persons identified as Mohammad Bashir son of Abdullah Gujjar and Hashim Din son of Faqira both resident of Gujjrara, Paristan of tehsil Ukhral district Ramban who were ref erred to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital Srinagar after giving first aid at District Hospital (DH) Ramban while third injured person who shifted to DH Ramban for treatment identified as Mohammad Qasim son of Ahamadin resident of Gujjrara, Paristan of tehsil Ukhral district Ramban.

 

Lateron, one injured namely Mohammad Bashir succumbed to his injuries on the way to Srinagar.

After hitting the labourers the driver along with his vehicle fled from spot who was chased with the help of locals and arrested. The driver identified as Rajinder Pradhan son of Inder Pradhan resident of Sagraguan district Khurda Orissaa at present sector 3 Channi Himmat Jammu. A case under FIR No. 18/2016 u/s 279/ 337 at police station Chanderkote stands registered.

But this is not the single case, but many labourers have become permanently handicapped while many other lost their life due to the accident besides various accidents occurred due to the roadside digging in this stretch of national highway, but the concern authorities becoming the mute spectators.

When contacted DDC Ramban, Bashir Ahmed Dar said “I have asked the concern tehsildar to take action against the contractors who are concerned in digging of roadside for laying of telephone cables, but later in came to know that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has granted the permission for the said work.

He further said that the administration can only take action against them if they violate the norms of contract.

DH Ramban lacks basic facilities

4 persons injured in different road accident

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, March 02: Four persons were injured critically in a two different road accidents in Ramban after which the National Highway (NH) at Ramban was blocked for around one hour for vehicular traffic, here today.

According to police a truck on its way from Jammu to Srinagar when it was hit with a Figo bearing registration no. JK02AK-6262, near Peer Baba Ramban this afternoon resulting three persons in which two of them were travelling in Figo identified as Sahil Dogra (27) son of Sudesh Kumar Dogra and Avinash Dogra (24) son of Mahinder Kumar Dogra both resident of Maitra Ramban while the other person identified as Partap Singh (43) son of Jodh Ram resident of Bajmasta village of Ramsoo in district Ramban were injured.

The locals shifted to them District Hospital (DH) Ramban, where doctors referred to one critically injured Avinash Dogra after giving first aid to Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu for further treatment.

Another accident occurred when a Tavera bearing registration no. JK03D-1146 hit one lady namely Zubaida Begum wife of Gulam Mohammad Wani resident of ward no. 4, cafeteria Ramban near cafeteria resulting critically injured the lady, which for referred to GMC Jammu.

While showing his concern about the said accident, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Ramban Neelam Kumar Lengah reached spot and also visited DH Ramban to look after the condition of the injured persons and directed the concern doctors to provide better treatment to the patients.

MLA assured that he will personally meet with the district administration and asked them to provide suitable help to one injured Partap Singh who is a labourer.

National Conference provincial secretary, Amrit Varsha also visited the hospital for asses the condition injured persons.

t is pertinent to mention here that the DH Ramban lacks some major basic facilities due to which the doctor failed to provide the suitable treatment and immediately referred accident victims either to Jammu or Srinagar, owing which some of the patients succumbed to their injuries on the way while covering 150 km distance as they didn’t get required medication on time.

Locals alleged that this is not for the first time when a accident victim unable to get medical treatment on time and doctors referred him to GMC Jammu, as nowadays condition of NH is very bad due to recent rainfall and land sliding at different parts on NH causing difficulties to reach ambulance on time.

They appealed to the MLA Ramban and district administration to look into the matter and enable every facility in DH Ramban as Ramban district is accident prone area, required fully equipped hospital to tackle such incidents.

22 families displaced after land sinks in Batote

Many villages without power, DC assures all possible help

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 21: Twenty two (22) families in Batote town today abandoned their homes after the area witnessed land sinking due to heavy rainfall across the district.

Three-days of heavy rainfall resulted in total collapse of 16 houses at Sheikh Mohalla in Batote whereas four other houses were partially damaged. The residents of these houses had luckily shifted from these structures before they collapsed.

The houses belonging to Mangtu Sheikh, Ghulam Hussain, Mohammad Naseem, Samdu Sheikh, Dilawar Mohammad, Altaf Hussain, Vishwa Nath Mattu, M Yasin, M  Farooq, M  Issac, M Naseem, M Shabir, Mohammad Lateef, Shakil Ahmed, Zaiba Begum and Mohammad Yousuf have been damaged beyond repair.  

The houses of Roshan Lal Mattu, Nirmal Kour, M Rafiq and Mohammad Lateef have been partially damaged.

Taking stock of the situation, district administration has provided 15 tents and 75 blankets to the landslide victims, besides ordering to supply one month free ration to these families.

Owing to the ongoing sinking of land over one kilometre stretch on which the 11KV transmission line runs also has been damaged.

The damage has caused power failure in Tringla, Amar Cheshma, Ladhwal, Khotri, Barthal and Bhandera. These places are without electricity from Saturday night.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bashir Ahmed Dar while offering every possible help to the sufferer, asked them to hire house on rent, “which will be paid by the administration”.

Meanwhile Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ramban, Neelam Kumar Langeh visited the spot and asked the administration to allot 10 marlas of land free of cost to each family and asked Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Pawan Kotwal to rehabilitate them in Jammu Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation (JKTDC) huts for the time being.

Seven years on, Chanderkote-Swani road, still a distant dream

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 21: Contradictory to the tall claims of state government to connect every nook and corner of the state, people of village Swani under district Ramban were still cut off from other parts of the district, owing to the casual approach of the Public Works Department (PWD).

According to the sources, from the past about eight years the PWD R&B Department with the financial help of NABARD scheme has started the work of seven kilometer Chanderkote-Swani road in district Ramban, but due to the negligent attitude of the department the work is still on snail's pace.

Sources further said that work was approved at the estimated cost of Rs 407.09 Crore including the construction of road and compensation of land.

"Only few people got meager compensation which also is a cause of concern for the people whose land was acquired for the seven kilometer track" sources added.
Ex Sarpanch Chanderkote, Dharam Chand Anthal said that in year 2010 the concerned department started the work of cutting from first two km, but from the last five year the work has been stopped by the department.

"Now the department has resumed work from last three months but no load carriers or Cutting machines have been engaged" he said.

A local, Kuljeet Rajput said that the revenue department is the main culprit in the whole process of road construction who started without any proper survey of the said area, due to which the land started sliding creating a life threat for the residents.

He maintained that the first priority of the concerned department would be providing compensation to the land owners after which the department should engage specialized engineers.

Whereas the Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Ramban Amar Singh Katoch said
"There is some dispute with the locals owing to which the work has been delayed for over seven years".

Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink

Many in Ramban don't have access to drinking water

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 21: Notwithstanding the tall claims of the state government and concerned authorities to provide basic facilities to the people at their door step, around 3000 people of Ramban are still without drinking water facilities.

Every year the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department of the state government celebrate World Water Day on 22 March, but fails to provide clean drinking water to thousands of people.

According to sources, the concerned department had projected a plan of installation of a filtration plant for Ramban tehsil in 1977, but after the lapse of 39 year they are unable to do so putting the lives of thousands of people at stake.

Officials further said that the department had planned to cover the Ramban town in phase 1 while in second phase, area of Maitra and Government Degree College Ramban were to be covered for which department approved Rs 3.98 crore and Rs 1019.60 lacs respectively.

Officials added that for installation of filtration plant the department has issued the tenders five times but didn't get any response, due to with the work of filtration plant is still pending.

As the summer season is approaching, it would add to the troubles of school going children as around 240 government primary schools of district Ramban are without clean drinking water.

When contacted Executive Engineer (XEn) PHE Ramban, Hamesh Manchanda said Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Company (JKPCC) has just take-up the work of installation of filtration plant after the board meeting in July and if the work goes smoothly it will take nine months to complete it.

He further said that the total estimated construction cost for the filtration plant is Rs 95 lacs while cost of the approach road the is Rs 55 lacs.

NH blocked for 4th day due to sinking of land at Batote

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 20: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the vehicular traffic on the fourth consecutive day due to the sinking of land at Batote besides other parts of the district followed by incessant downpour at several places.

Whereas the highway has been made operational for one-way traffic between Ramban and Banihal by the concern authorities but at Batote as road caves-in due to which the traffic remained suspended between Ramban-Jammu National Highway.

Official said that hundreds of vehicles in which thousands of passenger are stranded on the highway due to caving-in of around hundred metres of road near Batote town, due to which both Srinagar-Jammu and Batote-Kishtwar highways were closed.

Owing the continue land caves in Batote town of district Ramban, resulting the damaging of highway and residential houses including six houses which were completely damaged while around a dozen others, including structures inside CRPF 48 BN cantonment, due to sinking of the land. However, there was no report of loss of any life.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Bashir Ahmed Dar reached on the spot to assess the condition of the area. District administrations assure every possible help to the families whose house get damaged.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved families alleged that the administration is not doing anything to rehabilitate them as they are under open sky from the last 24 hours.

They said that continue rainfall is adding our woes and it is very difficult for them to cope up with the situation in this bad climate whereas the district administration has not offer any kind to help in rehabilitating.

DDC Ramban said that the administration is on work with the help of men and machine to clear the highway and successful open the road for vehicular traffic, but unfortunately the land near Batote start sinking from yesterday night due to which the highway between Ramban-Jammu again blocked.

He further said that if weather remains dry it will take two more hour to clear the road adding that after which the passengers and tourists who were stranded in district Ramban will allowed to moved to their destination.

He maintained the traffic officials’ daily announced the current status of the national highway, but the people overhear the announcements of the concern department and start their journey due to which the create problem not for them but for others too.

“Our first priority is to make sure that the stranded passengers will reach their destination safely after that the administration will allow the vehicular traffic from both side on national highway” DDC added.

National Highway closed for third consecutive day

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 19: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained blocked for the vehicular traffic for the third day today following the landslides triggered by overnight incessant downpour at several places.

 

The downpour had resulted into landslides at several places and sinking of the road at some places like Tringla, Batote, Dhalwas, Nashri etc. However till last reports came in the landslides at Nashri, Peerah, Kunfar Chandekote, Mehad, Seri, Marog, Battery Cheshma, Khooni Nullah, Magarakote, Panthyal etc. and the landslides were being cleared at Gangroo and Hingni by the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) officials.

Though, after the resumption of vehicular traffic on NH44 at 1:30 PM yesterday, all the stranded passenger vehicles were cleared by late evening yesterday when it was again stopped making some of the Srinagar bound small and big load carriers to remain stranded between Ramban and Chanderkote.

Owing the bad weather condition and continue rainfall telephone cable also get damaged at different places of district Ramban due to which the broadband services was affected for the whole day whereas the BSNL mobile and landlines also not working.

Some of the drivers of load carriers carrying poultry and vegetables were seen selling of their commodities at throw-away prices to the locals out of distress.

When contacted District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Bashir Ahmed Dar, at Bohardhar Neel a house was collapsed due to the overnight downpour where three families were evacuated to three tents provided by the district administration today morning. Some houses have been reportedly damaged in Mohu Mangat area in Khari tehsil of Banihal area. Due to lightening on a cow shed belonging to Mohd Iqbal at Dharamkund, three cows at two calves were killed. More reports of damages from different remote areas of the district have been pouring in since last reports came in.

 

Sarpanch Rajgarh, Mohd. Shafi said that the standing crop of mustard was damaged badly due to the overnight hailstorm and the Chanderkote-Rajghar link-road was also blocked at several places due to the landslides.

One way traffic' allowed on NH-1A to clear standard vehicles

One dead after being hit by big boulder on NH-1A near Battery Cheshma

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 18: The Traffic authorities today allowed one way traffic on every busy Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was closed for the landslides triggered after heavy rainfall in district Ramban and today was opened partially to clear the stranded vehicles to their respective destinations.

 

While talking to Early Times Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic Ramban Sanjay Kotwal said that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked yesterday near Battery Cheshma, Panthial, Gangroo and Ramsoo on Ramban-Banihal highway of district Ramban after the landslides were triggered on various places along highway due to heavy rainfall from the past some days.

"Today early morning due to heavy landslide at Chanderkote near Kunfar Nullah, Batote-Ramban highway also closed for around five hours," said SSP (Traffic), further adding, "fresh landslide has been witnessed at Nashri area, but machines are on work to clear the highway."

"Restoration work on national highway is going on. Men and machinery are on job. There will be no fresh movement of traffic on the national highway either from Srinagar or Jammu. Only stranded vehicles are being allowed," Traffic official specifically added.

 

He said, "Around 550 light motor vehicles have been moved on towards Srinagar which was stranded from yesterday evening at Ramban whereas around 2000 light motor vehicles for Jammu have been permitted to move.

"While trucks and other heavy vehicles will also be cleared after light vehicles" he said.

Meanwhile, a driver was found dead on Friday a day after he was hit by a big boulder on National Highway near Battery Cheshma area of district Ramban.

The deceased was identified as Ayaz Ahmed son of Abdul Qayoom Wani who went missing last evening after a boulder hit him. Volunteers and QRT team launched a rescue operation and recovered his body this morning.

Army today rescued around 250 civilians stranded on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district.

 

"With the incessant and heavy rains again wrecking havoc in the Chenab Valley region, the passengers on the National Highway were again at the receiving end due to road blockage," S N Acharya, officiating defence spokesperson here said.

He said Jammu-Srinagar Highway remained blocked at areas Ramsu, Painthal, Sherbibi and Gangroo due to massive landslides that occurred due to heavy rains.

"Stranded passengers faced hardships due to road closure and non availability of basic amenities," he said, adding that to provide succour to the aggrieved passengers, Rashtriya Rifles Battalion under Delta Force located at Nachlana mobilised resources to provide meals and other allied facilities on the spot.

A column of Delta Force of almost 100 troops reached the landslide area and almost 30 families stranded with 100 males, 30 females and 30 children were evacuated to the nearest Rashtriya Rifles camp, said the spokesman adding, "around 250 passengers were provided meals, drinking water and emergency medical aid".

"Delta Force is providing relief to as many stranded passengers as possible, especially elders, ladies and children in the camps nearby," he added and said the relief will continue till the time road opens."

Harshita Paul, 16,a resident of Kolkata, who was coming back with her parents from Srinagar towards Jammu after a wonderful trip, got stranded with her family for almost 10 hours without any food and water.

She said, "We were given hot food and warm blankets by the army after we were evacuated from the site". The prompt response and goodwill gesture was appreciated by the locals and the stranded passengers.