Srinagar, September 22 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting on Monday to review flood relief and restoration efforts, directing departments to expedite damage assessments for a consolidated package to the central government, while emphasizing permanent solutions over temporary fixes, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
Abdullah stressed the need for durable infrastructure revival on a war footing once central support arrives, instructing the Jal Shakti Department to prioritize long-term water supply restoration. He reviewed school safety audits, ordering fast-tracked certifications, and addressed social media rumors of delays in fruit truck movements on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, attributing slowdowns to poor road conditions rather than restrictions. Divisional Commissioners and the Inspector General of Police (NH) were tasked with issuing verified updates promptly.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over fresh subsidence damage to the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in Jammu, calling for immediate protective measures. In Kashmir, Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg reported one death, 16 fully damaged houses, 57 severely damaged, 791 partially damaged, over 90 km of roads, 87 bridges, 563 water schemes and multiple power installations affected, plus agricultural losses across 12,500 hectares in Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama, as reported by Kashmir Life.
Jammu Division faced heavier tolls, with Divisional Commissioner reporting 150 deaths, 178 injuries, 33 missing, 4,200 fully damaged homes, over 8,600 partially damaged, 1,455 livestock losses and crops ruined on 1,300 hectares. Restoration costs for roads and bridges alone are estimated at Rs 893 crore, with Rs 195 crore needed for water works. Over Rs 40 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund and Rs 3.35 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund have been disbursed, with progress in temporary power and education restoration.
Abdullah directed Deputy Commissioners to reconcile district figures for accuracy and sought ex-gratia reports for J&K families affected by a recent Himachal Pradesh landslide. Reiterating commitment, he told ministers, “We need to ensure robust preparedness, strengthen embankments and put in place effective response mechanisms to safeguard lives and property.”
In a related development, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma stated the Bharatiya Janata Party stands with flood victims and assured a comprehensive relief package. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Sharma criticized the Omar Abdullah government for being absent during the crisis, saying, “Omar sahab was busy in Chennai, preparing for Paris visit,” as reported by Kashmir News Observer. He noted BJP leaders including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh met affected families, but said he had no information on a potential Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit. No further official responses were available at the time of reporting.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
