Srinagar, Oct 19:Along the 270 kilometres Jammu-Srinagar national highway, a dedicated group of volunteers—known as the highway heroes—bravely responds to accidents and emergencies.
As the strategic highway is prone to accidents following its geographical conditions; there are dozens of volunteers who are working day and night during the rescue operations.
To avoid clashes, volunteers have divided the highway into three divisions, so that every group will coordinate accordingly. The highway has some accident-prone areas locally called Khooni-Nalla, Shaitaan Nallah, and Panthiyal.
The jurisdiction of NGO Banihal volunteers starts from Jawahar Tunnel to Sher-e-Bibi Gali. Similarly, Himalayan QRT Ramsu has its area from Sheri-e-Bibi Gali to Panthiyal bridge, while as Civil QRT Ramban carries its rescue operations from Panthiyal bridge to iconic Chenani-Nashri Tunnel.
It is routine work for Syed Mudasir from Banihal Ramban, who is among the volunteers who are busy in rescue operations along the highway.
“We remain always on alert for rescue operations. A missed call from any person can alert us. Whether it is night or day, it does not matter for us but what matters for us is to save precious lives,” he said.
Mudasir said they have been in rescue operations for the past 18-19 years and the group was registered as an NGO in 2012.
Recalling the fateful accident, he said when one of his colleagues lost his brother in an accident at Digdole, which is prone to accidents, Mudasir along with many others started rescue operations formally as a volunteer group. Currently, there are 51 volunteers in the group.
Mudasir said apart from rescue operations during accidents, they also help people during highway blockage, natural disasters, and other related works.
“I still remember the dreadful scenes of Amarnath Yatra bus accident in which 32 civilians were killed while in another similar accident at Kela Morth in 2019 more than 30 were killed,” he said.
Mudasir said from JT to Panthiyal, it is mostly an accidental prone area, and each week there are 6-7 operations at least. It is very hectic but it gives us unique satisfaction for serving humanity.
“Whenever there is any accident or disaster, we get distressed calls from locals, sometimes police, Army informs us and we try to reach within minimum time to the spot,” he said adding that response time is very less in any case.
Mudasir said they are usually appreciated by local administration on 26 January and 15th August celebrations.
“From the past several years, they have conducted 150 rescue operations along the highway from 2012. Apart from the highway, they are very active during winters and snowfall,” he said.
The NGO is currently active in Banihal area and is headed by Mohammad Idress, who oversees its operational activities. The group is also visible on social media handles.
Similarly, A. R Sohail, 50 who lives along the Panthiyal Ramsu along the Srinagar-Jammu highway and has been in rescue operations for the past 22 years in the region. He is currently heading the volunteer group, Himalayan QRT Ramsu.
“Since childhood, I have been watching accidents and vehicles skidding off from the roads. It was our daily affair and we used to go in rescue operations,” he said.
Sohail said it is teamwork and there are more than 20 persons, who are associated with the rescue group. During accidents, road accidents, landslides, the group is just a call away, he said.
“It was the year 2005, when the local administration appreciated our work, provided us with some equipment for volunteers and after that, we formed a team and worked jointly to serve humanity,” 50-year-old Sohail said.
About rescue operations, he said they cannot count how many operations they have rescued civilians. He said usually there are 9-10 road accidents along the Ramshu-Panthiyal highway stretch.
“Even on Saturday morning, there was an Alto car in which a youth from Baramulla died. Our team reached there at 5 AM in the morning and were busy with rescue operations. It is a thankless job, we are working for humanity and for the sake of Almighty Allah,” he said.
Sohail, who is an electrician by profession, says the government should widen the highway on a war footing basis, so that precious lives can be saved. It has been decades, this highway is snatching our young ones. Each day our eyes see blood and turmoil, he said.
“We spend our own expenses to reach the accident spot. The rescue team is further divided into two groups. One would usually rescue the injured and another would assist them to hospital,” Sohail said.
He said during the 2014 floods, his volunteers visited Kashmir to assist the people in distress. Even they used to carry rescue operations at Shaitaan Nalah which is an accident-prone area for decades.
“In Ramsu, from Battery Chesma to Chamalwas, we carry our operations. It gives us a great feeling,” he said.
Sohail said even though they are a volunteer organisation they are being deprived of transportation facilities. We had applied earlier but were denied; now we are using our rental or private vehicles to reach the spot, he said.
“We are helping the stranded vehicles who struck during the winters along the highway,” he said.
The rescue team is headed by A.R Sohail and its chairman Shah-Jahan Mir and they continue to extend their helping hand to the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Another NGO, Civil QRT Ramban, carries its rescue operations from Panthiyal bridge to the iconic Chenani-Nashri Tunnel.
Bashir Ahmad Magray, who heads the Civil QRT Ramban says the group has been active since 1995 and they have also rescued hundreds of lives.
“Since my childhood, I was interested in daredevil acts. Later it became my hobby and I will continue this till the end of my life,” he said.
Recalling his school days, 49 year old Magray said he used to take part in rescue operations when PawanHanse helicopter lifted dead bodies from Ramban to Srinagar. It was a firsthand experience to deport dead bodies, he said.
About their operations, Magray said their team is divided into three groups. First group rescues the injured at a spot, the second group carries them to the highway and the third group assists them in hospital, he said.
“Over the past 25 years, we have rescued hundreds of lives along the Panthiyal bridge- Chenani-Nashri Tunnel stretch of the highway. It has become a daily affair,” he said.
Magray said he is proud of his daredevil team who reach spot without any fear and rescue the people. There are 26 members in the group.
During the winters also, they rescue the people and shift them to safer locations in the town and later with the help of administration they provide them food.
Recalling his own experience, in 2012, Magray said he was once traveling from Banihal towards Ramban on a scooter. “I got information that a Minibus has skidded off the road in Ramban and I rushed to the spot and started assisting the injured”, he said.
“Some of the injured were struggling while some were dead. There was blood everywhere. I tried to rescue a lady who was severely injured,” he said.
Magray said while rescuing her, the injured lady said that her 5-year-old child was also traveling in the bus.
“When I came back near the accident spot, I found the dead body of a small boy, it pierced my heart. I was mum but asked the wailing mother that her son is stable, he said.
Magray said such experiences are routine along this part of the highway. Each day, my hands are colored with blood, he said.
He is doing scrap business in Ramban and says it is a way to serve humanity without any greed or fame. My focus and priority on road accidents and our response time is very quick, the businessman said.
He said both civil administration, Police, and Army also help them during the rescue operations.
“If there will be fewer accidents, then these causalities can be saved. Following the road construction over the years, there has been an increase in accidents,” Magray said.
He said the highway witnessed massive cuttings, constructions, and repairmen over the years. During winters it becomes difficult and he advised people not to travel during rains as landslides hit the vehicles.
Magray said there should be more tunnels along the highway so that precious lives can be saved. Whenever there is a need, the Civil QRT Ramban will be always there to assist people, he said.
