In the wake of the recent floods that severely impacted Poonch district, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, held a virtual review to assess ongoing relief and restoration measures.

Emphasizing swift action, the Minister directed all departments to expedite restoration of essential services—water, power, roads, and food supplies—particularly in remote and vulnerable areas. He instructed department heads to personally monitor on-ground progress and ensure effective coordination.
Rana stressed the importance of delivering timely and fair compensation to affected families and called for a long-term rehabilitation strategy with preventive disaster mitigation measures. Highlighting the need for safety in schools, he ordered structural audits and urgent repairs of damaged educational institutions.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma, briefed the Minister on infrastructure damage. He reported that 18 schools were affected, with four requiring immediate restoration. Of the 71 damaged roads in Mendhar, 65 are already motorable; similar restoration is underway in Surankote.
The Minister directed the Rural Development Department to take up repair of damaged houses and protection works as a special case. He also proposed deploying Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) on a rotational basis in Mendhar, Surankote, and Haveli, to ensure healthcare access in flood-hit and remote areas.
Out of 162 affected water supply schemes, most have been partially restored, with work continuing for full recovery. Rana stressed that restoring power supply must remain a top priority, given its direct link to water systems.
He also called for maintaining buffer stocks of essentials in cut-off regions and advocated scientific mapping of vulnerable zones to support data-driven mitigation strategies.
Reaffirming the Omar Abdullah-led government's commitment, Rana said all efforts would focus on building stronger and more resilient communities in Poonch.