Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday visited various flood-affected areas of Anantnag district to take stock of the damages caused by recent heavy rains and floods.
He interacted with the affected families and assured them that the Government stands firmly with them in these testing times, pledging all possible measures for their relief and rehabilitation.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo and Javed Ahmad Rana, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, and concerned MLAs of the district.
During his visit, Omar inspected the flood-hit localities of Mehandi Kadal, Janglaat Mandi, Deva Colony, Ashajipora Bridge, and other areas of the district. Residents of Ganjiwara raised demands for the early completion of the flood shed pump, along with repairs of interior roads and drainage works in Eidgah Colony.
Later, the CM chaired a high-level review meeting in Anantnag, attended by the Deputy CM, Ministers, Advisor to the CM, concerned MLAs, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, SP Anantnag, district officers from all line departments, and other officials.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag presented a detailed account of the damages caused by the floods and measures taken, including rescue operations, setting up shelter homes for evacuees, mobilising resources, deploying sandbags at vulnerable embankments, and initiating immediate restoration works.
He also briefed the CM about waterlogging issues, people affected due to floods and future planning to mitigate similar situations.
Addressing the meeting, Omar directed the district administration to prioritise restoration works.
He called for undertaking permanent restoration of Public Health Engineering (Jal Shakti) infrastructure, given its direct impact on public health. He gave directions for coordinating water tanker services and other relief measures with MLAs to prioritise the most affected areas and strengthening coordination among departments such as PHE, PDD, and R&B to ensure seamless restoration of utility services.
The CM also called for the constitution of special teams to assess damages so that detailed proposals can be taken up with the Government of India for compensation to the affected people. He instructed officials to assess damages to agricultural land, horticultural crops, and stranded fruit-laden trucks stuck on highways, and to submit their reports in this regard.
Omar also reached Kulgam district to personally take stock of damages, restoration works, and the challenges faced by the people.
His visit, marked by interaction with affected families and on-ground review of damaged infrastructure, underscored the government’s commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the public in this testing time.
The CM assured the people that his Government would take every possible step to provide timely relief and assistance.
He directed the district administration to accelerate restoration works on war footing while ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential services in affected areas.
Later, at a meeting convened at the Mini Secretariat Kulgam, the Deputy Commissioner briefed the Chief Minister about the early evacuation undertaken to safeguard lives and presented details of damage to roads, bridges, and public utilities.
He also outlined the steps initiated for fast-track restoration of services.
The Chief Minister lauded the proactive efforts of the district administration in carrying out timely evacuations.
He instructed departments including PDD, Jal Shakti, and Irrigation & Flood Control to work in a mission mode for the restoration of essential services.
Emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers, Omar Abdullah directed immediate assessment of crop and horticulture losses, including damages caused during transportation and due to road blockages, so that compensation can be considered by the Government.
Expressing concern over illegal mining in the district, the Chief Minister ordered strict enforcement to ensure a complete ban on the practice.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to extend every possible support to the affected families.