JK News Today
Jammu, September 01: Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah, visited Jammu today and surveyed the damage caused by the natural disaster in the rain, flood, and landslide-affected areas of the Jammu division. The Home Minister also met with flood-affected people in Chak Mangu village in Jammu.
Shri Amit Shah also inspected the Tawi bridge, Shiva temple, and houses damaged by the floods in Jammu.
Following the visit, a high-level meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister reviewed the latest situation. The meeting was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, and senior officials from the Central and Union Territory governments.
The Union Home Minister expressed grief over the loss of life in the recent incidents. Shri Shah said that in this hour of crisis, from the very first day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been in contact with the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of the Union Territory, and the Government of India has put its full force into the rescue operations. Shri Shah said that the Union Territory and all agencies have worked together to minimize the potential damage, and with coordinated efforts, they have been successful in saving many lives.
Shri Amit Shah said that a critical analysis of the methods, accuracy, and ground reach of all our Early Warning Apps (EWAs) should be done. He said that improving the system through repeated reviews can lead us towards a zero-casualty approach.
The Union Home Minister said that the Meteorological Department and NDMA should study the causes of cloudbursts using data analytics and AI. He said that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) should arrange for adequate rations, and a decision on offline delivery of rations could be taken after 10 days, depending on the connectivity status.
Shri Amit Shah said that survey teams from the Home Ministry will arrive here in a day or two to assess the damage, and aid will be provided afterward. He said that the health and water departments should actively focus on water supply and health services. He stressed that the medical teams of the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, and Air Force can be called upon for assistance.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that since Jammu and Kashmir is a natural disaster-prone area, a sum of ₹209 crore has been allocated to the Union Territory as the Central share for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), which has initiated the relief work here.
The Home Minister said that the timely warnings issued by the Central Government and the Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (UTDMA) helped in minimizing the loss of life and property. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Army, Union Territory Disaster Response Force (UTDRF), and other response teams were all on alert, and helicopters were also ready. He said that everyone was also informed about the deployment of the Army and NDRF.
Shri Amit Shah said that people’s private property has been damaged, and assistance for damaged houses under the SDRF is being assessed and will be distributed as soon as possible. He said that many roads have been damaged and their repair work has started. Traffic has resumed on most roads, and relief material has started reaching wherever needed. More than 80 percent of the electricity supply has been restored in the affected areas, people have started receiving clean drinking water, and health facilities are running smoothly. The infrastructure in critical areas has been affected, and its temporary restoration is being done on a war footing. The Jammu and Kashmir administration is assessing the damage, and all possible assistance will be provided.
The Union Home Minister praised the efforts of all agencies and said that the Union Territory conducted a successful rescue operation with great speed and efficiency. As a precautionary measure, more than 5,000 people have been shifted to safe places. 17 teams of NDRF and 23 contingents of the Army, Indian Air Force helicopters, UTDRF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel are still engaged in the entire operation and are helping the people. The Union Territory administration has arranged for health facilities and food in the relief camps, and the situation will become normal very soon.
The Union Home Minister assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that in this hour of crisis, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Central Government stands firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and is providing quick relief, financial assistance, and technical support to ensure the safety and welfare of the public and to facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction.
