Army has been our saviour, say flood victims of Jammu villages

Surya Chak (Jammu), Sept 15: For the people of this hamlet situated barely a few kilometres from Jammu, it is the Army which came as a saviour after the flash floods in river Tawi ravaged their homes.

Shammi Kumar, who along with his six family members is staying at a camp set up by Army at a government school for past one week, says, "My house was washed away in the flash floods in Tawi river last week.

"All has been washed away... nothing is left. It was the Army that came to our rescue and saved us," he told PTI.

The Army camp at the premises of Surya Chak Government High School is currently giving shelter to hundreds of flood-victims belonging to villages of Tawi Island, particularly Surya Chak, Rambagh, Laliyal, Nadwal, Phallian Mandal, Makwal, Raipur Satwari and other areas of Jammu.

"Army provided us with food and tents for shelter. We are indebted to them. Where is the state government that we have voted for?" Shammi asked. Another camper Sukh Chand, a refugee from West Pakistan and resident of Laliyal, said, "Our houses have gone and all our household goods have been washed away. The paddy fields too have been destroyed. And yet the there is no focus on us. Are we not victims?" he asked.

Most of the flood victims also praised the Army for connecting the 45-hamlets on Tawi island, which had been completely cut-off for five days after the floods, with the rest of the Jammu city by setting up a 150-meter-long bailey bridge in just a day. The bridge connecting Jammu with Tawi Island had been partly washed away.

The Army engineers on September 10 set up the bailey bridge, which helped the villagers to commute to Jammu city.

"We are very happy that now we can start a normal life. Children can go to colleges and schools in Jammu. Others can attend to their jobs. Supplies to the villages can also be resumed due to this bridge set up by the Army", Sardar Singh, who runs an auto-rickshaw, said.

NGO HelpAge India, along with some doctors, have set up camp here to distribute medicines at Phallian Mandal, Surya Chak, Makwal, Raipur Satwari and other areas of Jammu outskirts.

PTI