The back-to-back massive earthquakes at Nepal on Saturday and Sunday have its bearings on those living far away in Ranchi. Host of families belonging to the soldiers of first battalion of Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP-1) have been hit by the devastation while some of them have even lost their loved one back home.
One such person is Constable Balidar Shahi, a resident of Nepal’s Kaski district posted at the State capital who received a call from his parents on Saturday evening said, “My mother and father informed that the tremors have ruined our home. They have no food to eat nor has the rescue team arrived to them yet. With no option left, they are staying in the open school ground. I have applied for leave last night and waiting for the approval since my parents are devoid of grocery.”
Constables Shailendra Kumar lama and Prakash Ghale lost their 90 year old grand mother-in-law in Kathmandu. Their wives told The Pioneer that Shailendra has left for the last rituals of his in-law but got stuck at Patna. “My husband called up and said the road from Patna to Kathmandu has been damaged. So, he will reach Nuwakot district by tonight,” said Shailendra’s wife Sumana.
Meanwhile, Prakash’s wife Aarti was unable to convey the death message to her husband posted at Gumla. “My husband is posted in an interior place in Gumla where there is rare accessibility of mobile network,” Aarti said. Official sources in the battalion claimed soldiers hailing from Nepal’s lampjung district which was the epicenter of the quake have suffered huge property loss. “My colleague Belbahadur Gurung of lampjung is eagerly waiting for his leave sanction. His family members told that they are homeless,” said a constable. The lack of phone network availability in the affected districts of Nepal has created a communication for some housewives of the battalion. “I am unable to contact my parents at Koteshwar,” said a lady.
A staff of the battalion said the number of leave applications had arrived in bulk and it was not sure who all would be able to go home in this time of calamity. “We have forwarded the applications to the control room. Duty is also important so many would not get permission to go home. The final decision will be taken by our Commandant Saket Kumar Singh,” mentioned the staff.
As per the information released by Singh’s office, one constable of JAP-1 has lost his brother, one his grandmother and brother of one is injured. House of 35 personnel is damaged. Sources said Singh has ordered his Company Commander to give leave to distressed personnel as requested. Some family members organised a programme on Sunday in order to pay homage to their lost relatives with the slogan ‘Save Nepal’ written on chart papers.
Soldiers of the battalions of Gorkha Rifles in the city may also have been affected by the tremors. Sources said, “Damage to property of Gorkha soldiers of the India Army could not be ascertained. Indian Army authorities have sent representative to the affected places from Gorkha battalions to get the real situation and have sent personnel on immediate leave whose property and relatives have faced damage in any form.”