Samba, Jammu

Geography

Samba is located at 32.57°N 75.12°E / 32.57; 75.12. It has an average elevation of 384 metres (1259 feet).Samba town is situated on range of Shivalik hills alongside the National Highway 1-A / on the bank of river Basantar at a distance of forty km from Jammu city. District Samba is bounded by District Udhampur in the North, District Kathua in the East, Tehsils Jammu and Bishnah of District Jammu in the west, while on the southern side it has International Border with Pakistan. About two third of the area of Tehsil Samba is Kandi & rain fed. The area on southern side downside the national highway is irrigated through Ravi Tawi Irrigation canal network and contributing towards major cereals crop and vegetable cultivation as special focus has been assigned by the govt. of India, Ministry of Water Resources through Command Area Development Department.

A modern industrial complex is established on the bank of river Basantar at Samba named as Industrial Growth Center. A number of small & medium industrial units have been established and have provided job opportunities not only to the educated unemployed youths, but also to the labourers, skilled and un-skilled by starting their own ventures in the private sector.

Climate

The climate of the district being sub tropical zone is hot and dry in summer and cold in winter. Being in the foot hills of the mountains nights are bit cooler than that of neighbouring areas of Punjab. The temperature ranges between -2 degree Celsius and 42 degree Celsius.

History

It is said that Samba was principality established somewhere in 1400 A.D. As per folklore Malh Dev, the younger son of Rai Saidu of Lakhanpur was the founder of Samba principality, who married into the family of Ghotar a local tribesman. After his marriage he stayed at Samba and made himself the master of the tract with Samba as its capital. Samba ultimately came under the supremacy of Jammu, during the period of Hari Dev, in 1816 A.D. and in 1846 A.D. it became an integral part of the J&K State.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Samba had a population of 44,562. Males constitute 62% of the population and females 38%. Samba has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of : male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 70%. In Samba, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.About 85% of population is Hindu majority of which are Rajputs followed by Brahmins and Guptas.

Places to visit

Mansar Lake is situated on the Samba - Udhampur Road at a distance of twenty two km from Samba. The Mansar Lake is surrounded by small hills with different Hindu Gods and Goddesses Temples and also attracts a large number of tourists as well as religious pilgrims in the area. A tourist complex comprising five tourist huts and rooms situated on the bank of the Lake provides accommodation to the tourists /visitors. The State Government has also established development authority known as Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority which is responsible for implementation of tourism developmental projects in all the four tourist places.

Purmandal is a religious place situated at a distance of thirty nine km from Jammu and also connected with Samba via Purmandal-Utterbani –Vijaypur road. Purmandal is known as "Chotta Kashi", having old Shiva temples which has significant religious importance and surrounded by the Shivalik Hills that possess a natural beauty.

Utterbani is another religious place situated on the bank of legendary Devika and is having centuries old temples located at a distance of five km from Purmandal.

Terrorist strike

On 9 May 2008, around 15 to 20 militants tried to infiltrate the Samba border from Pakistan into India. India's Border Security Force (BSF) fought and exchanged fire with the militants to push them back to Pakistan. BSF later quoted that the militants could not have come to the border without the knowledge of Pakistani Rangers.

However, 2 terrorists somehow managed to cross the fenced border on the 9th. On 11 May 2008, these 2 terrorists took six hostages in a home. A gun battle between 6 Garhwal Rifles, along with BSF, and the terrorists lasted almost 12 hours, before the terrorists were killed. 5 people, including 2 Jawans (of 6 Garhwal Rifles and 20 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles) and on Photo Journalist Ashok Sodhi were also killed in the battle.

The situation remained tense the next day, when the 6 Garhwal Rifles again spotted another terrorist in Samba and killed him. As a result, massive combing operations continued for several days to flush out any other remaining terrorist. BSF believes maybe 10 other terrorists sneaked into India on the 9th. The IB blamed the BSF and has told the Centre that terrorists are exploiting the fact that BSF sometimes lower their vigil during periods of lull.

Another incident happened on 26 September 2013 when few militants dressed up as armymen first attacked Hiranagar police station and then kidnapped a truck to reach Samba, 18 km from Hiranagar.Here they entered the army cantonment and opened firing.In a day-long search operation and combat, all three militants were killed. 12 people including a lieutinent colonel were reported to be dead in this incident.

Higher educational institutes in Samba

1. Govt degree college, Samba.

2. Bhargava Degree College, Samba.

3. Govt polytechnic Samba.

4. Govt ITI, Samba.