Jammu. A dangerous scene of nature and human negligence was seen on Sunday in Pargwal, a border area of Jammu district. Due to sudden rise in water level in Chenab River, many people are trapped in the middle and on other banks of the river. The situation has become so serious that the local people have requested the administration to immediately conduct a rescue operation through helicopter or motor boat. This situation arose when the flow of water in the river became very fast after heavy rains in the upper areas and the opening of the dam gates.
According to local people, everything was normal till Sunday morning, but as soon as the dam gates were opened, the water level of Chenab river started rising rapidly. Within no time the low lying areas around the river were submerged. Many villagers who had gone to the other side of the river to do farming or graze cattle are stuck there. The flow of water is so fast that they are unable to muster the courage to return on their own. Local residents said that the water level is continuously rising, due to which the lives of the stranded people are in danger.
‘We were making announcements since morning, people ignored us’
Amidst this crisis, the administration has clarified that there was no lack of information on their part. Administrative officials present on the spot said that as soon as the information about the release of water from the dam was received, announcements were being made through loudspeakers in the area since morning.
An official said, “We had warned the villagers in the morning that the water level of Chenab was going to rise, so they should not go to the river banks and move to safer places. But many people took our appeal lightly and ignored the warning. Now that the water has risen, they are in trouble and are blaming us.”
Rescue operation of police and administration continues
As soon as the information was received, teams of Jammu Police and local administration reached the spot. According to police officials, they are making every possible effort to get the villagers out safely. A senior police officer said, our priority is to rescue the trapped people safely. People living on the edges are being sent out of the village to higher places. We are keeping an eye on the situation. At present, in view of the swelling of the river, SDRF and other rescue teams have also been put on alert. There is an atmosphere of panic among the people of Pargwal and they are praying for the safe return of their family members as soon as possible.
