In devastated Uri, people try to start life again
The nature of life is such that after every dark night there is a
new dawn. Those who survived in the terrible earthquake in
Pakistan and Indian Kashmir are slowly picking up the
pieces to re-build their lives once gain. The loved ones who
perished in the quake will no doubt be remembered. These
are the general sentiments in the quake hit area of Uri in
Indian Kashmir. People want to go about their routine work
and most of the people can be seen resuming their chores
already.
Mr Abdul Majeed Badana, a grocer in the Uri main market
says that he opened his store yesterday. Mr Badana was
injured and lost his home in the quake. He wants to forget
about past and carry on with life. People are scared of the
afterschocks but know well that a fresh big earthquake is
ruled out. Mohammad Lateef, a government employee
observes that historically major earthquakes do not occur
frequently.
B.B Vyas a senior government officer who is the
administrative incharge of the area contends that the
government relief teams have reached each affected area. No
place in the region is unreached, Mr Vyas adds. Mr. Vyas and
Director General of Police Mr Gopal Sharma were in Uri to
throw open some structures built by state police including
some schools. The government has erected 130 temporary
structures including 30 for schools. Five schools were
reopened today to resume the schooling in this area. We
hope that in next five days more than 30 schools will be
reopened, the police chief remarked. The government is also
pitching in with cash-doles for the poor, besides timber,
badly needed in the harsh winters. 15,000 tin sheets and 300
hundred engineers have been already trained to guide the
people for quake proof constructions in these areas.
The government is faced with the uphill task of fixing
derailed water pipelines, reopening of schools and the stay
of skilled and unskilled manpower in this area to guide and
help the quake hit people to start their life again. Besides the
quick disposal of animal caracass is demanding more
attention so that the chances of epidemic can be prevented.
There are no books for the kids, laments Mohammad Shareef
of Dachi. The government girl's higher secondary school,
which was reopened today, witnessed the presence of fifty
students but nobody had any books. The school works in tin
coops and a nearby tent serves the purpose of principal's
office.
The poulation in these rugged mountians is generally hardy.
The people desperately need some shelter to fight the
winter. They can be expected to carry on from there.