Saturday, November 5 2005 09:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Only three border crossing points are likely to be opened on Monday along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir instead of five in view of logistical problems due to landslides currently in the area.

Defence sources said three relief points at Kaman Post near Aman Setu in Uri, Teetwal in Tangdhar and Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch would be opened on Monday for enabling divided families to meet each other in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake.

The other two border crossing points at Gharkote in Hajipeer sector of Uri and Tattapani in Mendhar will be opened later as the road leading to these points are not safe at the moment due to landslides and demining.

"The work is on to remove the impediments in way of opening the crossing points at Gharkote and Tattapani, the sources said.

The road on Gharkote side of LoC was not safe at the moment and the work on demining of the area was also in progress. Besides, there are landslides and boulders at many places on the road leading to the LoC.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan are yet to work out modalities for transporting relief across the LoC through the border crossing points, sources said.

"There is no agreement on sending relief material to PoK or bringing it to this side from there as of now but three crossing points to facilitate the meeting of divided families would be opened on November 7," the sources said.

"If there is need to provide relief on either side of Line of Control, it would be done as and when the need arises," the sources added.

India and Pakistan agreed to open five crossing points along the Line of Control in view of the death and destruction caused by the killer earthquake which struck both sides of Kashmir on October 8.

The sources said there is also not much of demand from the residents of Gharkote and Tattapani areas as of now. But if there is any, the points would be opened as soon as these areas are safe for clearing, they added.

Although army officials here are maintaining that they were ready to go ahead with opening of the crossing points, the situation on the ground suggests that work will have to be undertaken on war footing to make these points functional by November 7.

More than 1,300 persons were killed and hundreds were rendered homeless in the 7.4 magnitude quake, which ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. The quake has completely flattened PoK, claiming over 73,000 lives.