1. Home
2. Front Page

2 BSF men swept away in flash flood at LoC

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/27/2012 1:53:56 AM

SUNDERBANI, July 26: A Deputy Commandant of Border Security Force (BSF) official and his driver were washed away along with their official gypsy in flash floods near the Line of Control (LoC) at Seri village of Sunderbani in Rajouri district, early morning today.
Official sources said that Deputy Commandant Tarun Gupta of BSF’s Intelligence Cell (G Branch) along with his driver Sepoy Udhay Kumar both residents of Rajasthan and posted with 191 Battalion BSF were on their official duty. As soon as the driver tried to cross the gypsy from a diversion connecting Munawar Tawi at Seri at 3.30 AM, all of sudden the water level increased due to heavy rains and flash flood in the adjoining nallahs. The gypsy got trapped in the strong water currents and swept away. The officer as well as the jawan was unable to come out of the vehicle and they were washed away in the watery grave.
As per lone eyewitness, an elderly local villager, he came out of his house to attend to the call of nature and saw a gypsy trying to cross a diversion. The gypsy sunk into the water due to cloud burst and sudden surge in water level at 3.30 AM. The speed of water was such that the gypsy was seen trapped in strong waves after turning turtle several times. He, however, informed the villagers in the morning, who further informed BSF authorities and police.
On receiving the information, BSF, police and army personnel started the rescue operation in the morning.
The vehicle stuck in the nullah was retrieved about one kilometer away from the spot and 500 metres short of LoC.
The bodies couldn't be found despite day long hectic search operation by the security personnel.
About 500 BSF and Army personnel were carrying out the rescue operation when reports last came in.
BSF has sought Army's assistance in contacting its counterpart across the border to retrieve the bodies, if they have crossed the border as Seri nullah connects Munawar tawi and flows down to Pakistan.
According to reports, army authorities are also trying to contact Pakistan army across the border in seeking their help in retrieving the bodies.
However, sources not ruled out the possibility of officer carrying his official weapon with him which also went missing. The senior officers were tight lipped over the issue of any weapon with the missing officer and jawan.
Senior officers of police including ASP Nowshera Parshotam Lal Sharma and SDM Nowshera Rajinder Khajuria also rushed to the spot besides others.