QRTs ineffective without necessary equipments

QRTs ineffective without necessary equipments
Yash Khajuria	11/19/2011 8:54:23 PM
JAMMU, Nov 17: More than 2 ½ years have passed, since the Chief Minister Omar Abdulla had announced a proposal for fully equipped Quick Rescue Teams (QRTs), to be deployed alongwith ambulances for immediate rescue operations during road accidents on National Highway in the state. In fact some QRT’s were constituted at the district level for quick rescue operations, immediately after the proposal, under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners of various districts. But, due to non-availability of the necessary equipments which are to be required in the critical conditions at the extended risky highway in the mountainous regions of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, these teams have not been able to perform their duties according to their potential. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Shabir Bhat said “the QRT was constituted according to the project which is working in the District Ramban and we are trying our level best to provide assistance during rescue operations even with the limited resources at our disposal. He further said “earlier, in 2009 an amount of Rs 10 lakh was sanctioned by the government under the project and we have bought a vehicle, which is being used by the team to cover the accidental spots”. “The teams are also providing assistance at Batote, Ramban and Panthal”, he added. “We had demanded for Critical care ambulances, longer ropes and other equipments to retrieve injured persons and vehicles from deep gorges and the mighty Chenab flowing through these districts but we were not provided the same”, said an official on the condition of anonymity. It creates several problems during the rescue operations and sometimes we even failed to save precious lives,” he rued. It is Pertinent to mention that on February 2009, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had announced the deployment of QRTs. Divisional commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal admitted that the QRTs deployed in accident-prone areas along the highways were ineffective unless necessary equipments were provided to them”. “We have submitted the detailed (Comprehensive proposal) to the State Government so that it gets cleared without further delay,” he informed. It may be mention here that more than 1300 people have lost their lives various road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 15-months while nearly 10,000 people have received injured in such incidents. However, Minister for Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon was not available for the official version even after repeated attempts.