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Third LoC point opens in Tangdhar

     Srinagar/New Delhi: The third point for handing over of relief material for quake victims was opened at Teetwal in Tanghdhar today. Earlier it was scheduled to be open on Thursday, but was put off as the Pakistani army was unable to construct a bridge in time. Army and civil authorities from the two sides met this morning to hold a brief meeting over the mechanism for transfer of relief. Although carting of relief material began at the appointed time with porters on foot carrying the relief material, no civilians were allowed to cross the LoC on either side. Colonel Batra, the PRO of the Indian Army in Srinagar told over phone that the procedure being followed here was the same as with the other two camps. "The Indian Army and the Indian civil administration is distributing the relief to the Pakistani Army and civil authorities and they are distributing it forward to the quake victims. The list of persons are still being exchanged and hence there is no movement of civilians from the two sides," he said. "Victims from PoK will be allowed to cross over the LoC once the list gets cleared by authorities from both sides," he added. As per the October 29 agreement between India and Pakistan, it was decided to open five points along the LoC for the families on both sides to cross over and ferry relief material for survivors of the October 8 quake.

      The first relief point was opened at Chakanda-Bagh in Poonch on November 7 and relief materials were exchanged at Aman Setu followed by the second point at Kamaan Post in Uri on November 9. Since 1948, it was the first time when LoC has been opened. The remaining two points at Balnoi in Mendhar and Silikot in Uri will be opened on November 14 and November 16 respectively. The opening of points on Loc has helped the survivors to get relief materials but the fresh snowfall and the night temperature have made the life of civilians difficult as it is impossible for them to keep on living in tents. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan have cleared names of 12 persons, who were scheduled to make the trip to PoK aboard the Caravan-e- Aman, the bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. The bus service had been suspended indefinitely in view of the damage caused to the road on the PoK side and breakdown of one pier of Aman Setu due to the October 8 earthquake.