Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 1: Even as a US-based university has recently declared Jammu as most vulnerable area for earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or above, the region is least prepared to tackle any such eventuality.
In the name of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the entire Jammu region, spanning over 12 districts, has only 400 odd cops deployed to tackle calamities like earthquakes or floods.
This is the concern of the state of government towards disaster preparedness in the region, which falls in seismic Zone-5, where the vulnerability to disastrous earthquakes is the highest.
Eyebrows are equally being raised over silence of Bharatiya Janta Party over the disastrous preparedness even though the people of Jammu region voted the party to power in 2014 elections.
The disaster preparedness has emerged as a major public concern in the recent past, when the US-based university pressed the panic button that earthquake of 8.0 or above on the Richter scale can hit the region anytime.
On 19th of last month, Oregon State University in the US said a major earthquake, of magnitude 8 or greater, may strike Jammu and Kashmir, endangering the lives of as many as a million people.
Scientists have found that the Reasi fault in Jammu province has been building up pressure for some time, suggesting that when it does release or "slip," the resulting earthquake may be large - as much as magnitude 8.0 or greater.
Official sources said the government has deployed two odd dozen cops in each district of Jammu region, while the total of this number is even not enough to tackle any such eventuality in a single district.
Highly placed sources in the Civil Secretariat said against the need of atleast four thousand SDRF cops in the region, the government has deployed a single battalion.
Official documents, a copy which lies with the Early Times, reveal that in February 2012, the then Omar Abdullah led government vide Order No. 159(HG)-Home of 2012 dated 21-02-2012 converted existing battalion of Auxiliary Police based in Jammu into the SDRF.
But the battalion is understaffed. "Against the sanctioned strength of 1000 cops, we have mere 800 on rolls. Of these around 400 cops are onto administrative duty whereas the remaining number is on the field," the sources explained.
The sources said despite a caution from the US based university, followed by intervention of Governor NN Vohra, the government has failed to take note of the matter.
"Earthquakes don't come with a prior notice, so instead of wasting time, it's high time for the government, particularly BJP legislators representing Jammu to call a meeting and adequately strengthen SDRF presence in Jammu region, which has been declared most vulnerable to earthquakes," said a retired police official.
He said it was equally high time for the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to formally pick up the matter with the Home department. |
