14 PATHANKOT VILLAGES GO 70% EMPTY

PATHANKOT: Vehicles, carts, twowheelers, laden with women and children, are speeding away from border villages in this district. “Something wrong is going to happen tonight,” said a fleeing man.

Television news and the administration advisory triggered panic evacuation along the Pathankot border with Pakistan after the surgical strikes in Kashmir. The government deployed transport to get the villagers out. “I had time to grab only a few, handy valuables,” said Surinder Mahajan of Bamyal.

Villagers who work outside were hurrying back home to fetch family. The evacuation in 14 Pathankot villages, including the Bamyal sector, is 70% complete. People hail surgical strikes but want the dispute with Pakistan settled once and for all.

The administration will provide them with free food and shelter at Gurdwara Barth Sahib. Hospitals are on alert and the emergency ward of the Pathankot civil hospital has been cleared. Bhoa legislator Seema Kumari, most of whose constituency falls in the border area, was pleading with the villagers to move out. The electricity department has orders to cut the supply for night blackout.

Senior superintendent of police Rakesh Kaushal said crisis management was working fine.