Ponda girl missing in flood-ravaged Kashmir, family worried

PONDA/PORVORIM: While one family in Ponda has been frantically trying to establish contact with their missing teenager in the flood-ravaged areas of Kashmir, another family in Mapusa eagerly anticipates the arrival of their loved ones in Goa on Friday. 

Rozana Choudari (17), a Std 12 student from Naga Masjid, Ponda, and general secretary at GVM Higher Secondary School at Ponda, has been reported missing in the devastating floods in Jammu & Kashmir, which have claimed over 200 lives so far.

Rozana’s mother Shahjad could not control her grief as Rozana’s sister Nazama (16) briefed media persons on Rozana’s trip to Kashmir. 

“Rozana left for Kashmir on August 20 for medical treatment at Soura Institute. She went to Barbhata City Hospital at Lal Chowk Kashmir and even undertook treatment there,” informed the sister.

“Some of our relatives are residing at Kashmir. All was well until September 5 when Rozana called us saying that the area where she was taking treatment has been flooded with water levels rising and added that she was shifted to Pampur Tulbag, some 20 kms away,” informed Nazama.

“On September 6, she called my mother to say that the building where she had been taking shelter was flooded. She was staying on the second floor and water was rising rapidly. This was her last call and later her mobile phone was answering switched off,” informed the sobbing sister.

“I tried calling Rozana numerous times. I even called on the helpline numbers, but it was of no use. There has been no contact. Rozana is my elder sister and we have a 12-year-old brother studying in Std 7. My father owns a transport office at Ponda,” she added.  “We narrated our plight to media persons with a hope that the news may help to trace her. Due to heavy flooding, all network, including communication, has been affected in the area,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Sandeep Falari said his seven family members, his parents and brother’s family, who were stranded at Pahalgam due to flooding in Srinagar, have been airlifted by the army and were shifted to Jammu on Wednesday evening.

“They stayed at Jammu on Wednesday night and on Thursday they arrived at New Delhi by flight. They will leave New Delhi on Friday morning and will arrive in Goa,” informed Falari.