Tangdhar: As part of his continued outreach to border residents affected by cross-border shelling, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited Tangdhar in district Kupwara to assess the on-ground situation and interact with the affected families, an official press release informed Tuesday.
It said the Chief Minister was accompanied by Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Trehgam Mir Saifullah, MLA Sogam Qaiser Jamshed Lone, MLA Karnah Javaid Mirchal, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ayushi Sudan, Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara Ghulam Jeelani Wani and other senior officials.
During the visit, the Chief Minister toured various villages in the Karnah border sub-division, including Tangdhar, Hajinard, Nachiyan, Shamspora, Baghbela, Batpora, and Tarboni.
He took stock of the damage to residential structures and listened to the grievances of the affected residents.
Assuring support from the administration, he said: “The affected families have shown remarkable courage in the face of adversity. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them. Their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope.”
He further emphasized that ensuring the safety, support, and swift rehabilitation of affected families remains the government’s top priority.
The Chief Minister also visited Sub-District Hospital, Tangdhar, to review the availability and quality of healthcare services in the border area. He inspected key departments including Outpatient and Inpatient Units, Gynaecology, Operation Theatre, Ultrasonography, and X-Ray facilities. Interacting with the Chief Medical Officer, doctors, and staff, he directed them to work with utmost dedication and compassion to serve the people in this far-flung area.
He also spoke to patients and attendants to understand their concerns and degree of satisfaction with medical services.
Speaking to the media, CM Omar Abdullah said he had come personally to assess the damages caused by shelling and reiterated that adequate help would be provided to the victims as part of relief and rehabilitation measures.
While inspecting community bunkers in Tangdhar, the Chief Minister acknowledged their critical role during crises.
“These structures are a lifeline during times of escalation. We will ensure the construction of additional bunkers to safeguard our people living in vulnerable areas,” he said.
He further added that the construction of individual bunkers will be taken up with the Union Government to enhance the safety of border residents during periods of heightened tension.
During the visit, the Chief Minister also inspected the Hydel Power Project at Gundi Shart, the progress of which had been affected due to recent hostilities. He assured that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeline.
Ceasefire must hold, people want peace: Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said the ceasefire between India and Pakistan must remain intact as people on the border want to live in peace.
“We all want the ceasefire to remain intact. Only the anchors of a few TV channels, who sit far away from here in Noida and Bombay, do not like the ceasefire.
“The people living near the borders or the LoC, and those who saw the situation in Jammu and Srinagar, they want a ceasefire. It is a good thing. This ceasefire should remain intact,” Abdullah told reporters in the Tangdhar area of Kupwara district.
The chief minister was visiting the shelling-affected areas of the north Kashmir district.
“The district administration will complete the damage assessment and then whatever compensation is needed to be paid to them, we will give that to them,” he said.
Abdullah said the government will formulate a policy to build individual bunkers for the people.
“Community bunkers had been built but they were not used for so long. No new bunker has come up in many years. Wherever I went, people said we should build individual bunkers.
“The government will frame a policy on that and a scheme will be formulated for the people in these areas which are closer to the LoC and border and that would then be taken up with the central government,” he added.
During the visit, Abdullah met the affected families and assured them of relief.
“Visited the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar and met families who have shown remarkable courage amidst deep pain.
“Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them, their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope,” the CM said on X.
On community bunkers in the area, he said, “These structures are a lifeline during moments of crisis. We will ensure the construction of more such safer spaces to protect and support our people living in border areas.” (PTI)
