Returning to Kargil — Docs operate underground

Almost every house, every school and every office in Kargil has a concreteunderground bunker. The bunkers at the hospital are more than 10 feet belowthe ground and its rooms include one sterilisation room and a ward, apartfrom the two OTs.

In fact, the Government is paying for the construction of bunkers for allthe residents. It has even laid down the specifications for theirconstruction. “It is the responsibility of the State to take care of itspeople. Therefore, the Government is not only paying between Rs 8,000 to Rs16,000, but is also providing construction material to residents of Kargil.The Government officials personally go and check whether the construction ofbunkers is per specifications before approving it," says an official.

After last year’s hurriedly constructed bunkers, affluent residents of thetown have got plush and very comfortable bunkers constructed this year.“Our hotel was shelled last year and splinters even damaged our home. Thattime, the bunker we had was nothing better than a deep hole in the ground,”says Zaheer Bagh, son of a hotelier in Kargil.

This year, their bunker is ready with thick wool carpeting, kerosene`bukhari’, electricity and a television set. Bagh’s bunker also has akitchen and an underground toilet. “It would be very stupid indeed to havesuch a large bunker and then get killed trying to answer nature’s callduring shelling,” he adds with a wink.

On the outskirts of the town, most bunkers are smaller and covered with rockand concrete. There is no electricity inside just a few odd utensils, somecandles and woolens. The administration is also starting a shelling drill inall Kargil schools, but that is after shelling sirens are installed,activated and made operational. The fear of renewed shelling still hauntsthe locals. “Who knows when the enemy might start shelling all over again.We have to take precautions,” says Rahmat Ali, a building materialsupplier.

The prices of land have also gone up in nearby relatively safer villagesTrespone, Minji and Shankoo where both affluent people and religioussocieties are taking land in advance for protection against future shelling.One Kargil school is also looking for a building to rent so that thestudents can be shifted there in case there is shelling.

The district administration is also working on a plan to shift the officesof essential services health, civil supplies including food and policeout of Kargil. The plan is to be able to reactivate the services withinhalf an hour of shelling.

Last year, then deputy commissioner (DC) Shaleen Kabra had got specialpermission to divert funds to build an underground OT and other rooms at thehospital.

“This year, as soon as more funds are made available, we will build moreIsrael-style underground structures,” says a district administrationofficial.