Despite warning, people enter rivers during rain
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 7
Though a number of people have died in flash floods across the Jammu region in the last few days and the administration has issued a warning against entering the rivers during rain, some people continue to risk their lives.

The water level in the Tawi and Ujh rivers, the Basantar nullah and other seasonal rivulets has risen due to heavy rain and a number of people have been trapped in the flash floods and several roads and bridges have washed away. The administration has also issued an alert that a flood-like situation can occur anytime and the people should avoid going near the rivers during rain.

The Tribune team yesterday found that a number of people, unaware that the water level in the Tawi, was increasing, were collecting sandstones during rain.

Asked why were they risking their lives, a small boy, who was collecting stones from the river, said, “We are paid for it. If we do not collect stones, how will we feed our families? It doesn’t mean that we don’t know the risk of entering into the river during rain, but we have no option.”

Residents of the area near the Tawi said a large number of people entered the river everyday and the administration’s warning seems to exist only on paper. “If the administration is serious about the issue, it should deploy some officials permanently along the rivers to keep a check on public movement,” said Sudesh Kumari, a local resident.

However, the police and officials of the Flood Control Department said they were regularly monitoring the situation and keeping an eye on the movement of the people.

Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, said, “I have directed the officials concerned to regularly monitor the situation, but the area is too vast and public should cooperate.”