JK CM Omar Abdullah assures rehabilitation, compensation during visit to flash flood-hit Rajouri
Rajouri, August 6
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited the flash flood-affected areas of Rajouri district and assured residents that the government would ensure rehabilitation, compensation and restoration of essential services for those impacted by the disaster.
Reviewing the relief and rehabilitation efforts, the Chief Minister said the administration's immediate priority during the flash floods on July 19 was to save lives through timely evacuation and emergency response.
"The situation that arose on the 19th July, our first responsibility was to ensure that loss of life should be minimised. In this district, four precious lives were lost, which we deeply regret, but if the administration hadn't taken all the measures, this number might have been even higher," Abdullah told reporters.
He said the administration subsequently shifted its focus to search and rescue operations before moving into the restoration and rehabilitation phase.
"Then we turned to the recovery phase, to search for and rescue the missing people. Now the work of restoration and rehabilitation is underway. Wherever there has been damage, it needs to be repaired," he said.
The Chief Minister said electricity supply in the affected areas has largely been restored, while efforts are underway to address disruptions in drinking water supply.
"Electricity supply has been nearly restored. The water issue remains a major problem. Many of our Jal Shakti Department's water supply schemes have been disrupted. Some suggestions have come from the MLA, and we will not only consider them but also implement them," he added.
Assuring support to affected families, Abdullah said the government would provide adequate compensation to those whose houses had been damaged and would make arrangements for the rehabilitation of people who had lost their land.
"Those whose homes have been damaged should receive proper compensation. Those who have lost their land should be given plots so that they can have homes. Arrangements will be made for free ration," he said.
The Chief Minister's visit comes after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall caused widespread damage in parts of Rajouri last month, washing away roads, damaging houses, disrupting water supply schemes and affecting power infrastructure. Rescue teams from the district administration, police, SDRF and other agencies were deployed to evacuate stranded residents and restore connectivity in the affected areas.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has been carrying out restoration work on damaged roads, bridges and public utilities while assessing losses to private property and agriculture. Officials are also conducting damage assessments to facilitate compensation under the government's disaster relief norms.
Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed heavy rainfall and weather-related incidents during the monsoon season, prompting authorities to strengthen disaster preparedness and issue advisories in vulnerable areas.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government would continue monitoring the rehabilitation process to ensure that affected families receive timely assistance and that damaged infrastructure is restored at the earliest.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartening to see disaster response being taken seriously. The emphasis on minimizing loss of life first, then moving to restoration, is the right approach. I hope the free ration and land compensation promises are implemented without bureaucratic delays. The people of Rajouri deserve swift action.
Four lives lost is still four too many 😔. But the CM is right that timely evacuation probably prevented a bigger tragedy. The real test will be in the coming weeks - will the compensation reach the affected families? Will the water supply be fixed? We've seen too many promises in the past. Let's hope this time is different for Rajouri.
Yaar, these flash floods are becoming a recurring nightmare in mountainous regions, especially with climate change. Good that the CM is personally monitoring rehabilitation. But we also need long-term solutions - better drainage systems, early warning systems, and stricter building codes in vulnerable zones. Relief is necessary, but prevention is better. 🙏
It's good to see proactive governance in disaster management. The CM's hands-on approach during this crisis is commendable. I hope the administration's damage assessments are thorough and that compensation is distributed fairly and transparently. The people of Rajouri have shown great resilience.
Honestly, this should not just be about post-disaster relief. The J&K administration needs to step up its disaster preparedness. July rainfall has been causing havoc for years now. I appreciate the CM's visit, but we need a concrete plan for infrastructure that can withstand these monsoon extremes. Jal Shakti and PWD need to take this seriously.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.