Jammu: A Punjab chief engineer working on Ranjit Sagar Dam was booked along with the dam management by Jammu and Kashmir police for alleged criminal negligence which led to the death of a villager in Kathua district.
The FIR was registered on the orders of Kathua District Magistrate against the chief engineer for criminal negligence which led to the death of a resident in Jarai area of Kathua, an official at Kathua district said.
The dam is located between Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir and Pathankote district of Punjab. The matter of non-cooperation has also been raised with Punjab government, he said.
As per reports, the dam management released water during the intervening night of May 7 and 8, leading to flooding of lower areas in Kathua tehsil which resulted in the death of the local resident, he said.
The deceased has been identified as Sayeed Mohammad. He was washed away along with livestock due to sudden release of water, the official said.
“The Deputy Commissioner, Kathua took up the matter with Chief Engineer of Ranjit Sagar Dam and Deputy Commissioner Pathankote, following which the water was stopped in the afternoon of May 8,” he said.
He said, as the rescue operation was on, the dam authorities once again released the water resulting in narrow escape of a team of 15 men engaged in tracing the body.
The issue was raised again with DC Pathankote who intervened and water was stopped but only for one hour and it was again released without any information.
“The chief engineer did not cooperate with district administration despite repeated communications and no prior information was given regarding release of water,” he said.
On the direction of District Magistrate, Kathua, an FIR was registered in Kathua police station against the enginner and the dam management.
PTI
