Gopal Sharma
SUCHETGARH (IB), Sept 23: It could surely be a sabotage as with the major breach in the Tawi bandh on Pakistani side near Badyal Brahmana, just adjoining Pak Post Attah Sayeed, the river caused extensive damage to the three BSF posts along International Border in Suchetgarh and standing paddy and vegetable crops on nearly 4000 Acre of the farmers.
Not only this, three BSF posts flooded with nearly 8 to 15 feet of river water and IAF choppers had to airlift 82 persons including nearly 45 trapped BSF personnel. The trapped villagers from Hanso Chak, Kalali Tibba, Khatmariyan, Begga, Mangral and Sangral near Abdullian (Suchetgarh) were airlifted and also had to be evacuated to safer places and many abandoned their houses to stay away from the flood as nearly 8 to 10 sq km area on Indian side was marooned in flooded Tawi water, said a BSF official posted in RS Pura sector.
The officer on the condition of anonymity disclosed that nearly 700 mt fencing has been damaged extensively and the anti-infiltration infrastructure/ instruments have also been washed way at several locations. With the uprooting of pillars/ poles and damage caused to fencing and its concrete base, a large number of area has turned vulnerable to infiltration. The Border Security agencies had to deploy additional security men to guard this particular area to prevent infiltration of armed intruders from that side.
Referring to the sabotage on that side, the official said movement of that side is visible from selective towers. Even during morning when Tawi was flooded and it was raining, some Pakistani Rangers were noticed moving away from the flood prone area near Attah Sayeed Post. The flood water starting entering at around 11.30 am and its level started rising to the surprise of BSF men and villagers of the area. They started running away to safety while there was no much cry on that side (Pak side), indicating they might had escaped prior to breaching of Bandh to the safer sides. This indicates they had already moved to safety. With 2-3 hours, entire stretch of over eight to 10 kms of this belt with good paddy crop was in water. The BSF men particularly from Khatmarian, Mangral and Sangral Posts went up on the roof tops and saving arms and ammunition was their first priority. Most of their belongings including beds, shoes, clothes, personal boxes containing belongings and clothes, even ration remained in the barracks which were marooned soon.
Another Indian forward post, Kharkola on IB was also marooned but the water level was less there. From three posts the BSF men were airlifted but some with weapons were retained there to guard borders on the towers and roof tops of the concrete structures. The BSF men had displayed their belongings, beds and shoes etc in the sun when the Excelsior team visited. Even city garbage and mud was found spread all around the posts, some roads and fields. Some transformers were also noticed damaged, indicating that they remained submerged in flooded water with dry grass trapped all around.
The entire area, right from Alla Mai De Khode towards down, Badyal Brahmana, Hanso Chak, Kalali, Sangral, Mangral, Khatmariyan and Abdullian was marooned in water. Even today, several areas and paddy crop is under water. A vast area in front of Khatmariyan and Mangral post spreading over 1000 acre was seen still marooned in water. A BSF personnel at this post said that they could hardly get 10 to 20 minutes to collect their weapons and some of the belongings. Some were not knowing swimming. They had to throw their belongings on the roof top under rain. There was chaos and everybody was running for safety. All their vehicles also remained in water for two days. There was nearly 8 to 14 ft water in the Post area and belongings of many jawans were washed away. Ration and many other things got submerged in water in no time. There was water around 3-4 kms and nothing was visible around. Many cattle were seen getting washed away in flood. The flood caused losses/ damage to the fencing at three four locations and also to the infrastructure/ equipment, he maintained.
Ch Dev Raj, Sarpanch Baspur Bangla and president Sarpanch Association R S Pura/ Suchetgarh said there was flood alert in the four five villages. The farmers have suffered damage to their high quality paddy crop worth crores on nearly 4000 Acre irrigated land in this belt with Tawi flood. The villagers from Khatmariyan, Begga, Hanso Chak, Sangral, Mangral, Kotli are much affected. Even seedling of vegetables of many farmers have been damaged with rains an flood.
The Sarpanch, who is also president of Basmati Growers’ Association R S Pura said that Basmati crop has been suffered massive damage and Government should come forward to the rescue of the farmers. He said the paddy straw (fodder/ Parali) in this belt has suffered 100% damage due to mud. He demanded that farmers be provided compensation at the rate of Rs 5000 per kanal of standing crop damaged and said that rate being projected by the Government was not acceptable to the farmers. Tarsem Lal of Begga said that his 12 acre land with paddy crop has been affected and he has suffered huge loss.
Surjit Singh from Chandu Chak said that Bandh from this side of Nikki Tawi never breached but this time it seems to be sabotage on Pakistani side. He said the famers of this belt are mainly dependent on this paddy crop and they will face starvation as they havenot been provided any help by Government. Banta Ram alias Billu of Tonkan Wali said he has also lost his paddy crop on 8 acre of land and only a small portion is left. There will be no fodder for the cattle this time. He also demanded compensation for fodder as well as damaged crop.
SDM, R S Pura Rajinder Sharma when contacted said that in some area, the crop damage has been noticed while in some of the area, the crop has started reviving. The Agriculture teams along with Revenue officials have been asked to reassess the crop damage and submit report so that relief could be worked out and provided to the affected farmers. He said the damage projected on the basis of preliminary information was on higher side and teams have been asked to go for re-assessment thoroughly village wise and the report is yet to be received. He said so far 1990 houses have been damaged fully and partially in R S Pura and Suchetgarh due to rains and floods and relief to the tune of Rs 57 lakh has been worked out. The crop damage detail is yet to be received and worked out. But they all will get compensation as per NDRF norms.
Director Agriculture Jammu, S S Jamwal said that teams were still busy in the assessment and re-assessment work in certain pockets. Revenue officials are also accompanying. He said on the basis of preliminary inputs from all the districts including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri the yield loss of the crops to the tune of Rs 48 crore has been worked out. But in some areas reassessment is going on and the final figures may be received with in couple of days. Mr Jamwal admitted that Tawi, Chenab, Basantar and Devak rivers have caused maximum damage to the standing crops.
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