Rajnath, Omar hold meeting over Kashmir flood

The Union Home Minister arrived here this morning for an appraisal of the situation that has arisen due to incessant rains resulting in devastating flood, particularly in Kashmir Valley and some districts of Jammu Division.

The Chief Minister gave overview of the situation and the measures taken by the State Administration to safeguard the lives and evacuate people from the submerged areas.

The Union Home Minister assured all help from the Central Government to the State to overcome the difficulties and help relief and rehabilitation of the affected population. “Wherever you need Central assistance we will be providing you,” he said, asking for an assessment of losses to be forwarded to the centre.

The Chief Minister said that the presently the top most concern of the State Government is to ensure safety of human lives and evacuate the population trapped in submerged areas.

He said soon after water recedes the assessment of losses will be ascertained on war-footing.

However, he added that huge paddy and fruit crop have been destroyed by the floods and unabated heavy rains. He said besides standing paddy crop, vegetables, maize and other crops have also been damaged hugely.

He said there is heavy damage to the public infrastructure and private property besides residential houses. He said Army, NDRF, State Police and Civil Administration are working in tandem to help rescue and evacuation of marooned population.

The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State in PMOs Office, Jatinder Singh, J&K Minister of State Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, Minister of State for Irrigation and Flood Control, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Union Secretary Border Management, J&K Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Irrigation and Flood Control, Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Vinod Koul, and various senior officers from Government of India and State Government.

Presenting a brief on the flood situation and the damage caused to infrastructure and private property besides loss of human lives, the Commissioner Secretary Revenue and Relief, Vinod Koul informed that as per the latest reports as many as 83 human lives have been lost in the devastating flood.

He said that 390 villages have been submerged in the Valley while 1225 are partially affected. He said in Jammu Division 1000 villages have been affected by the flood waters.

He said that 50 bridges and hundreds of kilometers of roads besides power installations and PHE schemes have been damaged due to flood and rains. He said the assessment of the damages can be fully ascertained after the flood water recedes and survey could be conducted.

He said that the urgent demand of the State is for 25000 tents and 40000 blankets and underlined the need of its procurement at the Centre level and early dispatch to the State.
 
(Reporting by Saleem Qadri)