Poonch-Rawalakote bus flagged off

Poonch (J&K): Scores of people cheered and waved flags as Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday flagged off a second bus service linking Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir and Rawalakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Khatija bi's had decked her up house in Poonch district for the bus from Rawalakote. Khatija bi's mother, her three brothers and their families are coming to visit her in the bus after 30 years.

Of the 30 passengers, 18 are visiting Khatijabi. “I have been preparing for one month. I have been very busy as my entire family is visiting me,” Khatija bi said.

After the Uri-Muzaffarabad and Amritsar-Lahore bus service, the Poonch-Rawalakote bus service is another effort to bring together divided families from across the border.

The bus will be connecting Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir to Rawalakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

It is not just Khatija bi who is gearing up to welcome the guests from the other side of the border, the entire district has been spruced up for the passengers. The authorities are leaving no stone unturned to leave a lasting first impression.

“We have used fabricated steel sheets, brought all facilities to this remote area so that when people come from that side they should think that we are capable of bringing goods even to such areas,” chief engineer, road and buildings, M M Sharma said.

Over 62 per cent of the population in the twin border district of Poonch and Rajouri have families that were separated in 1947 and 1965.

The Poonch-Rawalakote bus is the state's second bus service across the LoC. The Uri-Muzaffarabad bus service was started last year.

The mood is upbeat and the entire state is gearing up for the celebrations on Tuesday.

“If the trees are on this side then shades are on the other side (border), if rivers are on this side then thirst is felt on the other side. Our hearts beat for the loved ones on the other side,” historian and writer, KD Mani said.

As a house prepares for a warm welcome and a town prepares for a grand reception, the people of Poonch are celebrating the realisation of their dream — the Poonch-Rawalakote bus service. A small but yet another step in promoting the peace process.

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