JAMMU/SRINAGAR: A BSF constable was swept away in the flash floods while manning a post in Pargwal area of Jammu’s Akhnoor sector during hostile weather conditions, while search team found four more bodies on Thursday, taking the toll to 43.Senior BSF and civil administration officials, J&K minister Satish Sharma and civil society members on Thursday paid tributes to the BSF jawan, Rajib Nunia, who died the previous day, even as search, rescue and relief operations continued across various J&K districts devastated by record rains, floods and landslides.The Army’s Aviation Corps rescued 27 security personnel trapped in heavy floods in the Chenab River in the Jourian area of Akhnoor. Using helicopters, the Army airlifted the personnel — stranded after their camp was inundated — through 17 sorties over a span of 10 hours, despite adverse weather and challenging conditions, they added.As the weather fury eased a bit, the Northern Railways on Thursday ran two special unreserved trains from Jammu station to Delhi and Varanasi to ensure a smooth journey for stranded tourists and pilgrims.The Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for traffic for the third consecutive day due to multiple landslides, causing damage at several places. The Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway was also closed for vehicular movement.Authorities also announced closure of all schools, both govt and private, across Jammu division till Aug 30 in view of heavy rains and related disruptions. Internet and mobile services were down in J&K and power supply remained cut off in many parts of Jammu.CM Omar Abdullah said that he would be taking stock of the devastation caused. “If just two days of rain can cause this, imagine the situation if the rains would have continued for four more days. We would have been in a 2014-like situation,” he said.In 2014, large parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar, were submerged after the Jhelum River swelled to 1.20 lakh cusecs, far above its carrying capacity of less than 30,000 cusecs. Govt later estimated the damage to infrastructure alone at Rs 44,000 crore.“I will hold a meeting to review what has been done after the 2014 floods and how the funds meant for flood protection measures were used,” Omar said.BOX: Protest against Vaishno Devi shrine boardAccusing the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board of commercialising the pilgrimage to the shrine in the Trikuta Hills, a large number of local residents took out a procession against Board authorities in Katra. They alleged that massive construction in the fragile area of Trikuta Hills was causing disaster and destruction.The protesters questioned why the shrine board allowed the yatra even when schools and govt offices were shut following a weather alert for Aug 26, and also demanded that the responsibility be fixed for the death of the pilgrims in a massive landslide. They also demanded immediate corrective measures to prevent further tragedies.(With inputs from agencies)
