Searches to trace 33 missing continue, DNA profiling begins
Srinagar/Jammu, Aug 21: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday directed officials to prepare medium- and long-term disaster mitigation plans for the vulnerable areas in the Union territory in the wake of Kishtwar and Kathua flash floods.
The chief minister chaired a meeting to review the ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures for people affected by the recent cloudbursts and flash floods, an official spokesperson said.
Addressing officers, Abdullah stressed the need for speedy relief assistance, restoration of essential services, and long-term strategies to safeguard vulnerable areas from recurring natural calamities.
The CM directed all concerned to intensify relief efforts on war footing, while simultaneously preparing a medium- and long-term disaster mitigation plan for Jammu and Kashmir’s vulnerable areas.
“Whether it was a cloudburst or a glacial lake outburst, the fact remains that this tragedy struck at the busiest time of the year in the Chisoti village. Had it occurred at any other time, the impact might have been less severe. These are lessons we must take forward,” Abdullah said.
The CM said the meteorological department had issued warnings, including advisories against unnecessary travel, which underscores the importance of adopting clear SOPs and guidelines for highly vulnerable regions.
Short-term priorities must remain on relief and rehabilitation, while medium- and long-term measures must include a holistic assessment of vulnerable areas by experts, protection of agricultural lands, discouraging habitation along flood-prone nallahs and creation of preventive mechanisms, he said.
On the ongoing rescue operations, Abdullah said unfortunately, with 33 people still missing, it is safe to presume we may not find any of them alive.
“Our priority now is to retrieve dead bodies to hand them over to their families. Equally important is to rehabilitate those whose homes and livelihoods have been devastated,” he added.
He assured all possible government support in reconstruction of damaged homes, restoration of agricultural land, and provision of essential services.
The CM directed concerned departments to work out temporary arrangements, including the deployment of generators, to ensure electricity supply in affected areas until road connectivity is fully restored.
Earlier, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Ramesh Kumar briefed the CM on the relief and rehabilitation activities detailed while deputy commissioners gave detailed presentation on the situation in both districts.
Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar informed that 65 people have lost their lives so far, of which 62 bodies have been identified and handed over to families, while 33 persons remain missing.
He said 66 persons were rescued alive, while temporary shelters, food, medicines and health facilities are being provided.
The deputy commissioner reported that Army, Police, NDRF, SDRF, and civil administration are jointly engaged in rescue and relief operations with heavy machinery deployed on the ground.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua informed the meeting that seven persons lost their lives and 13 sustained injuries, with around five areas severely affected.
Immediate relief was distributed to the victims, NGOs were roped in, and temporary shelters established.
He said that road connectivity, which has been badly disrupted, may take about a week to restore, while efforts are underway to resume electricity, water supply, mobile services and other essentials. He added that both private and public infrastructure has suffered significant damage.
Meanwhile, the multi-agency search operation to trace 33 missing persons in cloudburst-hit Kishtwar district entered the eighth day on Thursday.
“The search operation by multiple agencies has been intensified to trace 33 missing persons. Operations are underway at the most affected sites by separate teams,” a senior official told.
The focus of the operation has been laid at three locations — the major impact site near a langar (community kitchen), the area where houses were washed away, and the Bhuat nallah in Gulabgarh-Paddar areas.
Joint teams of police, Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), CISF, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), civil administration, and local volunteers are engaged in the rescue efforts at these sites, the officials said.
A team comprising NDRF, SDRF, and police personnel is conducting a search operation along the entire 22-km stretch of the stream from Chisoti to Gulabgarh, following the recovery of two bodies downstream over the past two days, the official said.
Specialised heavy-duty trucks have been deployed in the Chisoti to assist in rescue operations. Authorities are using such vehicles to ensure swift evacuation and provide relief in the affected areas, they said.
The rescue teams from the 13th Battalion of NDRF are actively carrying out search operations along the river-nallah bed, working tirelessly to locate and retrieve missing persons.
They are also removing large boulders and debris to ensure a thorough and safe search. Heavy machinery, including earth movers and sniffer dogs, are being used to sift through the debris, they said.
The officials said while the death toll stands at 65, some body parts of the missing people have been recovered, and the DNA identification process has begun, even as lookout notices to identify three bodies have been issued.
A senior officer supervising the operation put the death toll at 65 and said that 62 bodies have been identified so far and handed over to their families. “Three bodies are still unidentified,” he said.
He said the five limbs recovered have been preserved, and DNA profiling has been initiated. “People whose kin have been missing have been asked to come forward for DNA profiling,” the officer said.
Officials said lookout notices have been issued for the three bodies — including one headless, and two of women — kept at GMC Hospital in Jammu and in Kishtwar.
