RAJOURI/POONCH: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday reviewed relief, rescue and restoration operations in the flood-affected districts of Rajouri and Poonch, directing officials to expedite restoration of essential services and ensure timely assistance to affected families.
In Rajouri, the Deputy Chief Minister visited the flash flood-hit Bella area to assess the damage and inspected restoration works. He directed officials to clear damaged roads, restore essential services and take all necessary measures to bring normalcy back at the earliest.
Chairing a review meeting later, Choudhary was informed that district authorities and line departments were carrying out rescue and restoration work on a war footing. Officials said three of the four persons reported missing in the flash floods had been found dead, while search operations were continuing to trace the fourth.
The meeting was informed that multi-agency rescue operations involving the SDRF, NDRF, Police, Army and other agencies were continuing in coordination.
Reviewing infrastructure damage, Choudhary directed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to improve drainage along NH-144A and expedite road restoration. Officials informed him that 157 PMGSY roads had been damaged, prompting directions to the PWD, PMGSY and BRO to restore connectivity on priority.
The Jal Shakti Department informed the meeting that 131 water supply schemes had been affected and that tanker services were being used to provide drinking water. Of the 150 power feeders disrupted by the floods, all except 30 had been restored, with work on the remaining feeders expected to be completed shortly.
The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and prevent black marketing and hoarding. He instructed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to prepare a comprehensive flood protection plan for the Bella area and ordered departments to assess losses to agriculture, horticulture, education and other sectors for timely relief and rehabilitation. He also directed officials to identify and blacklist contractors who failed to carry out road repairs during the defect liability period.
Later, Choudhary chaired a high-level review meeting in Poonch to assess the flood situation, restoration of damaged infrastructure and relief measures. The meeting was attended by Minister Satish Sharma, MLAs Ajaz Ahmed Jan and Choudhary Mohammed Akram, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma and senior officers.
Officials briefed the Deputy Chief Minister on damage to roads, bridges, water supply schemes, power feeders, irrigation channels, schools, residential houses and agricultural land, besides the functioning of relief camps and restoration measures.
Choudhary directed all departments to ensure speedy restoration of infrastructure, maintain road connectivity, improve drainage systems and adhere to quality standards and timelines in restoration works. He stressed coordinated efforts to ensure uninterrupted essential services and minimise inconvenience to the public.
Satish Sharma assured affected residents of government support and asked the BRO to accelerate road restoration. The legislators also highlighted damage in their constituencies and sought immediate restoration and enhanced compensation for affected families.
The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that all departments must work with urgency and coordination to ensure timely relief, rehabilitation and restoration in the flood-affected districts.
