RAJOURI/POONCH: Ministers Javed Ahmed Rana and Satish Sharma on Wednesday toured flood-affected areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts to assess damage caused by recent flash floods and incessant rainfall and directed officials to expedite restoration of essential services and relief measures.
Rana, who holds the Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology, Environment and Tribal Affairs portfolio, and Sharma, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Transport, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Science and Technology, IT and ARI & Trainings, visited affected areas, chaired review meetings and interacted with residents. The ministers are visiting the districts on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to oversee relief and restoration operations.
In Rajouri, the ministers visited Bella Colony in Darhal, one of the worst-hit areas, where flash floods caused the Darhali, Khandli, Suktoh and Jamola streams to overflow. Officials said the Darhali river breached a flood protection wall near Bella Colony, inundating the new bus stand and damaging several vehicles.
The ministers reviewed damage to houses, roads, drinking water schemes, power infrastructure, irrigation facilities and other public assets. Rana directed the district administration and line departments to restore drinking water supply, road connectivity and other essential services on priority and called for a time-bound assessment of damage to houses, agricultural land and public infrastructure to facilitate relief and compensation.
Highlighting the impact of power outages on water supply schemes, he instructed the Power Development Department to restore electricity at the earliest to ensure the resumption of drinking water supply.
In Poonch, the ministers chaired a review meeting at Surankote with MLA Choudhary Mohammed Akram, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma and senior district officers to assess the impact of the floods and monitor restoration efforts.
Rana directed the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu, to prepare detailed project reports for flood-affected areas and identify vulnerable locations and breach-prone spots for long-term mitigation and restoration works.
The ministers instructed officials to remain on high alert, maintain round-the-clock preparedness and closely monitor flood- and landslide-prone areas. They directed the district administration to identify vulnerable locations and ensure timely evacuation of residents from high-risk areas whenever required.
The Power Development Department was asked to complete restoration of electricity on priority, while arrangements were also ordered for the supply of potable water in areas where water supply schemes had been affected. The Public Works Department was directed to undertake temporary restoration of damaged roads to restore connectivity and facilitate movement of essential supplies and emergency services.
The ministers also instructed the district administration to ensure relief camps were adequately equipped with food, drinking water, healthcare and other basic amenities, besides completing a comprehensive assessment of damage to residential houses, public infrastructure, agricultural land and irrigation facilities for timely relief and compensation.
Later, Rana visited the flash flood-hit Ari area of Mendhar subdivision, where he inspected the damage and interacted with affected residents. Officials informed him that nearly a dozen houses had suffered partial damage and several stranded people had been rescued by the district administration and emergency response teams.
The ministers assured affected families that the government would provide relief, rehabilitation and all necessary assistance for the early restoration of normalcy. They also appealed to the public to follow weather advisories and avoid venturing into flood- and landslide-prone areas until conditions improve.
