68 Pakistani nationals stranded in J-K floods sent back

Sixty eight Pakistani nationals who were trapped here due to the floods in Jammu and Kashmir were sent back to their homes on Tuesday via the Poonch Rawalakot bus service.

The residents managed to cross over to the other side after 15 days as the Indian Army repaired an iron bridge to link up Poonch and Rawalakot.

The stranded Pakistani nationals also appreciated the Indian Army's role during the flood situation which helped save lives of the people and also provided them shelter and food.

Aman Farooq, a Pakistani national said, "I saw it with my eyes the way the bridge broke. The way Indian Army has made the pull that is appreciable. I was thinking that I would not be able to go home for two months."

Sham Sher Hussain, SSP, Poonch Police told ANI, "Travel and trade was suspended from 1st September, the huge flood had also destroyed the Ranganala bridge. Today the travel is resuming and trade may also resume now. 68 PoK returnees are going back today. We will see how many people will come here."

Another Pakistani national stranded during the ferocious J-K floods said, "I am grateful to the Indian Army, they restored the bridge or we would have been stranded for long."

The Engineer unit of the Indian Army completed the construction of an iron bridge on Friday for cross border transportation between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC).

The engineers worked late night amid heavy rain and thunder for completion of the bridge which is the only link for trade and travel and connects Poonch and Rawalakot.