JK News Today
Banihal, July 25: National Conference leader and MLA Banihal Mr Sajjad Shaheen undertook two days extensive tour of rain-affected areas across Banihal and Tehsil Khari to assess the damage caused by the recent incessant rainfall and review the relief measures being undertaken by the administration.
Accompanied by Tehsil-level Revenue officers and party colleagues, the MLA visited the villages of Gund Tethar, Tehar, Takia, Darshipora and Bankoot in Banihal and Khari, where he interacted with local residents, listened to their grievances and personally assessed the losses suffered by the affected families. He observed that the relentless rainfall has caused widespread damage to residential houses, standing maize crops and public infrastructure across several parts of the Banihal–Gool constituency.
During his visit to Bankoot, the MLA met Abdul Hamid, whose house has been severely damaged due to the continuous rainfall. He immediately took up the matter with the concerned authorities and sought early compensation and all necessary assistance for the affected family.
Sajjad Shaheen expressed serious concern over the reports of damage to several houses and extensive losses to maize crops in various villages of Banihal and Tehsil Khari. He urged the District Administration to conduct a comprehensive and time-bound assessment of all affected areas and ensure that every deserving family receives fair compensation and timely relief without delay.
The MLA instructed the Revenue Department to depute assessment teams to all rain-affected villages across the constituency to document losses to houses, crops and other property and process compensation cases on priority.
Later, the MLA also inspected the Mandakbass landslide site in Tehsil Khari, where a major portion of the road has been washed away due to landslides and road subsidence, severely disrupting connectivity for the residents of Ahma, Kawna, Bawa, Trigam, Mahoo, Mangit, Bajnari, Arimarg, Hijwa, Buzla, Akhran and other adjoining areas.
Taking serious note of the recurring damage to this vital road stretch, Sajjad Shaheen directed the Executive Engineer, R&B, to immediately prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of a bridge at Mandakbass to bypass the vulnerable stretch and provide a permanent and long-term solution to the recurring disruption of traffic during the rainy season.
Reiterating his commitment to the welfare of the people, the MLA said that the safety and well-being of the residents of Banihal and Khari, as well as the entire Banihal–Gool constituency, remain his highest priority. He assured the public that he will continue to closely monitor the situation and pursue all necessary relief, restoration and rehabilitation measures with the concerned departments to ensure that every affected family receives timely assistance and adequate compensation.
