By Sheikh Nasir Hussain, NAK
Kishtwar : More than fifty government officials including Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar and Deputy Inspector General of Police were stranded in Marwah area, where United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid a short visit on Friday.
Reports reaching here revealed that AICC president and UPA Chairman Sonia Gandhi paid a short visit to Marwah area of Kishtwar district, where thousands had gathered to accord her warm reception.
Sources said that more than fifty officials from civil and police administration had rushed to Marwah in view of the Sonia’s visit. The area unusually remains cut off during the winter season but this year more than 15 feet snow has been reported from the area.
It was reliably learnt that Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, DIG Farooq Khan, SP Kishtwar Mumtaz Ahmed among other government officials reached Marwah on Thursday. “Sonia Gandhi had to return soon after she landed in Nowapachi as it started snowing in the area”, sources told News Agency of Kashmir adding, “However, the government officials, who had gone to ensure her smooth visit, were stranded in the area”.
Sources added that in the absence of any communication facilities the administration in Kishtwar were not having any knowledge of the government officials stranded in the area by this evening. “It was only by the evening that we received a message through army wireless system that the officials were stranded and it was heavily snowing in the area”, sources preferring anonymity told NAK.
They said that district administration has requested for a helicopter from the army so as to bring the officials back to the district headquarter. However, the helicopter can be deputed to the area only if weather improves, they said.