UDHAMPUR: National Panthers Party State President and MLA Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia alleged that Deputy Commissioner Yasha Mudgal is responsible for Panchari tragedy where due to landslide, eight people were killed and 40-50 are still missing. Due to criminal negligence of DC Udhampur, rescue measures couldn’t start on time resulting in loss of precious lives. NPP MLA demanded to lodge FIR against Deputy Commissioner for her casual negligence while dealing with natural calamity. He also asked Prime Minister Narinder Modi to initiate enquiry of the matter as to why rescue operation was not started on time.
In a press conference, NPP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia said people of Panjar Panchayat of Panchari Block rang many a time to district administration to provide helicopter to rescue trapped people. On 6th September at 4:00 PM, tragedy struck at Panjar where 40 to 50 people buried under debris of mud and eight people have died so far in natural calamity. Despite repeated requests to district administration, on Sunday at 4:00 PM helicopter was pressed in to service for rescue operation.
Mankotia while raising question over the inaccessibility of district administration said Meteorology Department has issued written warning on 3rd of September to all DCs to make people aware about the prevailing weather conditions. Unfortunately, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur failed to deliver the same resulting into loss of precious lives. Irresponsible, casual behavior of the Dy. Commissioner Udhampur is responsible for Panchari tragedy. After facing continuous rainfall and landslides, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur on Sunday after 24 hours of land slide provided helicopter for rescue operation for people when army had started rescue operations in many areas at its own.
NPP MLA demanded that rescue and relief operation started by army should be purely handled by army and other security agencies as district administration is inaccessible to handle the situation. Even after passing six days, no relief, ration, tents, blankets have been provided to affected area of Udhampur District as people of this area faced huge loss due to heavy rains and floods. He also convened a meeting of PHE, PDD and PWD official to start restoration process so that people can get drinking water, electricity and road connectivity.