Officials warn Kashmiris of possible nuclear attack
An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier patrols near the fenced border with Pakistan amid fog in Suchetgarh, southwest of Jammu, Jan 10, 2013. — Photo by Reuters
SRINAGAR: Officials in Indian-controlled Kashmir are warning residents to build bomb-proof basements, collect two weeks’ worth of food and water and be prepared for a possible nuclear war.
Local officials did not answer calls asking why they were suddenly concerned about a nuclear attack in the region, repeatedly fought over by nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. However, a series of deadly skirmishes along the cease-fire line in recent weeks has heightened tensions between the two countries.
The notice, published Monday by the Kashmir police in the Greater Kashmir newspaper, advised people to build toilet-equipped basements large enough to house the entire family for two weeks. If there is no basement, residents should construct bunkers in their front yards, the notice advised.
The shelters should be stocked with candles, battery-operated lights and radios and nonperishable food and water that is regularly replaced to ensure it is fresh, it said.
During an attack, it advises drivers to dive out of their cars toward the blast to save themselves from being crushed by their soon-to-be tumbling vehicles. It also warns residents to keep contaminated people out of their shelters.
“Expect some initial disorientation as the blast wave may blow down and carry away many prominent and familiar features,” it advises.
While authorities did not return phone calls for comment, Yoginder Kaul, inspector-general at the civil defense and state disaster response force, told the newspaper that it was a “normal exercise to raise general awareness among (the) public about disaster management.”
“It has nothing to do with anything, and it should not be connected with anything,” Kaul said.
Both India and Pakistan claim the divided Kashmir region in its entirety and have fought two wars over it.
Earlier this month, three Pakistani soldiers and two Indian soldiers were killed in the worst bout of fighting in Kashmir since a cease-fire accord was signed by the countries in 2003.
In light of the violence, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Sunday he was reviewing future ties with Pakistan.
The nuclear war advisory and its timing surprised many residents in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
“This is fueling an atmosphere of fear. Educating people is fine but not this brazen way,” said Fayaz Ahmed, a local resident.
The lengthy notice also provided advice on how to survive attacks with chemical and biological weapons.
It is a case of media sensationalism. It is part of disaster preparation being done by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India all over the country
Clearly, Indians are overreacting this time… this is ridiculous….
Its just an exercise conducted by NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) … intended to prepare the citizens of any nuclear eventuality …. which is a very legitimate concern …. as we have two nuclear neighbours, one of them is Pakistan which is a failed state with an unstable political scenario, masses susceptible to extremists and jihadists and a rogue army……..
Fear mongering at its finest
Let the people on both sides speak and not the elitist governments. Indians and Pakistanis should take out a day of protest against their governments to drop the nuclear rhetoric. The elite and their families will flee abroad, while ordinary civilians and their children will suffer in the event of a nuclear war.
I support that whole heartedly from this side of the fence.
Alhamdullillah Pakistan is not such an irresponsible country to kill innocent humans at large and especially our own muslim brethren . so i think anti peace forces should not malign us and mislead the world.
This is classic:
“It has nothing to do with anything, and it should not be connected with anything,” Kaul said.
Thanks for the cogent explanation.
Dawn…. is somebody planting fake news in your releases?
Open up any major Indian newspaper, nothing of this sort. Its all about Gadkari corruption, Chautala corruption, womens issues… etc
Now dont be silly, keep it conventional.
Hinduism divide people in different casts and there is great amount of exploitation and hatred between these casts, therefore hatred towards Pakistan and Muslims is something normal for them because of their religious believes. One should not expect normal behavior from their government as they are extremest by their religious believes and have bitterness is in their nature, additionally there society does not offer anything positive other than Bollywood, which is doing well not because of good quality but because of very large population who have no other source of entertainment.
The Opposite is true rather. Hinduism has survived despite Iislamic nvaders for thousand of years.
The great division among hindus help them accept people from diverse cultures. Hence Hindus have less hatred towards muslims or other religions because we are not a standardized religion
Someone obviously has a few nuclear bunkers to sell ?
The most sensible comment among all this silliness…:-)
India’s nuclear is deterrent for China’s military power, growth and ambition, claims, Arunachal Pradesh on and off, occupied Tibet illegally, claims Taiwan as part of China, threatens to wage a war if Taiwan declares independence, recent show of military strength against Japan for the two Islands. Pakistan knows it can never win a war with India conventionally, the only option is nuclear. If there is nuclear war between India and Pakistan, definitely Pakistan will be out of map and it will be history. Pakistan has to think twice before using nuclear against India, with responsibility, which I hope it understands.
“If there is nuclear war between India and Pakistan, definitely Pakistan will be out of map and it will be history.”
nice imagination. may i ask what you think will happen to India?
if a nuclear war “does” break out, no one will be the winner.
Lets face the facts. There will be no war. People on both ends want peace and prosperity. Plus India has more to lose if a battle breaks out. As far as the nuke issue is concerned it could be a warning that indian nukes might land inside India since their nuke program is still incapable to compete with pakistan.
lol
Yes because nobody ate grass in India to get Nukes
I think it’s coming.
What officials? The ‘warning’ is so misleading. Purposely, I think. Americans, probably in the 1950s, were told to save themselves from a nuclear attack by building shelters. Children in schools were told to hide under their desks. I hardly think that is going to help, but, at the time, I think many Americans fell for it.
India. I think all you accomplished with your ‘warning’ was making yourself look a bit silly. But you appear to know that, since you tried to walk it back by saying it was just ‘a normal exercise to raise general awareness…’
Well, we all do silly things from time to time.
Relax my fellow countrymen! If you have followed India’s missile test firings that they carried out over the Arabian sea in the last few years, the missile could not be tracked after a few miles. So maybe this time they are carrying out a live exercise and want to warn all their states one-by-one if this test also fails like some of the others!!!
i think u have no knowledge about our missile what their range and capable of.May be u r country people mislead u for not to afraid.We have a range of 3,500 which can take arm up to 5 tons and cover up to china.So think twice what u tell and we have also the weapon which destroy missile on air ok which technology that pakistan never think of himself.So study first what india capable of
@manoranjan oh ok, now translate it in English pls
Good. So you accept Kashmir is an Indian state
It is either he accept or not
Only damage of People of Kashmir Human right must stop those violence …….. !!
Since Pakistan beat India in cricket India wants to take revenge to nuke Pakistan.
Who cares who won, Just Indian board has benefitted, not you and not me. They earn and u are happy.
The only way in which there can be nuclear attack in Kashmir is if Pakistan detonates one. India has very clear and stated ‘no first use policy’ of nuclear weapons. Anyway’s, I feel that this news is quite exaggerated no matter who published it.
As of our Pakistanis friends are concerned, they need to ask themselves that question. Over the last six decades, how many civilian governments have they had over which the military had no control of. Bottomline, you cannot have military leaders dictating foreign policy of your country and expect that peace would last forever. This is and will remaim the single biggest difference between Pakistan and India. The military has no influence towards running the government or influencing policy making. Else, we would have a different map of Asia today.
The 4th world war will be fought with sticks and stones.
Two weeks food and water will not save people in that event.
It seems Indians had it now,ever sience Pakistan test the nuclear bomb they started thinking they are untouchable,that’s why pakistan doing all kinds of mischieves at the boarder,mutilating soldiers,unprovoked firing etc.Indians anger is at high level,it’s gonna be significant distruction both sides,but remember Indians always surprises at the end.May god bless both countries.
- ready for a war is the best way to maintain peace.
God bless Pakistan.
India = Paper Tigers.
Their rhetoric is simply getting old now — who knew losing to Pak in cricket would annoy them so much? Take a chill pill.
Wah Wah, Maza aa gaya, what a joke………………..
you won 1 ODI more than india in the entire series and you think you have the capability to match them.. get real my friend.. it was unfortunate that it was 3 match ODI series… think Ajmal was up for some more treat from Yuvraj but god saved him from further humiliation.. so next time he and all you should bark right when you stood before them, not after you go back to your home..
“God save him..”
So God is with us… btw. not a single match was won by india by more than 10 runs margin.. So next time when you jumps in to post a comment in DAWN.. be serious…
ahh the bitterness..
Google 16 dec 1971