Shadows

SHADOWS

bY: JEHANGIR AHMED

Khundru Depot Blast

Residents Resent Repression

“Had some social organizations not come forward our children would have died of starvation before tents and ration from the government could reach”.

Khundru, a hamlet of 13 villages, 4 Km away from famous tourist spot, Achabal was hit by the hailstorm of burning bomb shells caused due to sudden explosion in the nearby located Army depot. The rain of fire continued for 50 hours causing huge loss to human life and property including standing paddy crop and orchards of variety plants. In the incident 18 persons were reported died out of which 4 were civilians and rest soldiers. Number of injured was far higher than what was officially reported. According to Defence Spokesman over 20% of the houses were completely gutted whereas partial damage was reported in case of other houses. However, on 13th august, G.O. C- in-C, Northern Command, Gen. Panag conducted an aerial survey and told reporters in a Press conference that for another 6 months the entire area was unsafe for human habitation. In the meantime, the District and Divisional administration remained busy convening meetings after meetings thinking that there could be live bombs under the debris that may blow them up with the result that emergency aid to the victims could not reach well in time. “Had some social organizations not come forward our chil-dren would have died of starvation before ration from the government could reach”, lament locals. Pertinent to mention, after long wait when government aid in the form of few shelter sheds and small quantity of ration from administration reached it was thrown in the streets as mark of protest and the peaceful protestors resenting government apathy were lathicharged. “There is no doubt about our government being very fast in making promises, but it is equally slow in action except when it has to cane charge the peacefully demonstrating protestors”, commented some other locals.

The most notable thing in camps however, was that all victims irrespective of religion, caste and creed stayed under one roof and shared each other’s grief. What better example of brotherhood could be than this that Muslims cooked cheese for their Pandit and Sikh brethren who did not take mutton! So far many high level teams have arrived here, but nothing concrete has happened on ground. Surveys are being conducted and estimate of losses prepared, but nothing concrete has been done to mitigate the sufferings of the affected population. People of the affected area have demanded that their villages be acquired by government and they be settled at some place in light of the fact that there could be some more ammunition hidden under the debris.

Estimated Loss

Village: Khandru

Total Houses: 575

Houses Damaged: 476

Estimated Loss: 77.51 lakh

Village: Sambrona

Total Houses: 338

Houses Damaged: 338

Estimated Loss: 2.10 crore

Village: Nowgam

Total Houses: 1119

Houses Damaged: 790

Estimated Loss: 1.12 crore

Village: Pashru / Pehlu

Total Houses: 797

Houses Damaged: 285

Estimated Loss: 78 lakh

Other Nine (9) villages sustained losses ranging between

Rs.76, 000 to Rs. 4 lakhs.