MeT predicts more rains; safety audit of schools ordered
Jammu, Aug 31: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that safe relocation of landslide-affected families is his government’s first priority, followed by their comprehensive rehabilitation, even as he asserted that efforts are being made to throw the national highway open and to facilitate supply of essential commodities to Kashmir Valley.
Omar travelled from Srinagar to Jammu by road to inspect the ongoing restoration work along the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The vital 250-kilometre highway, which is the lone all-weather road that connects Kashmir to the rest of the country, remained closed for the sixth consecutive day due to multiple landslides and road sinking caused by torrential rains early this week.
The chief minister said concerted efforts are being made to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities to the Valley.
Abdullah, who on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting on the restoration of major roads, especially the Jammu-Srinagar highway, undertook the journey to get a firsthand account of the progress of the work, an official said.
He will brief about the situation to Home Minister Amit Shah, who is scheduled to arrive in Jammu on Sunday evening to assess the flood situation.
Abdullah said efforts are being made to throw the highway open and to facilitate supply of essential commodities to Kashmir Valley.
Inspecting a damaged portion of the highway at Tharad in Udhampur, the chief minister said, “The national highway, especially in Udhampur district, suffered immense damage due to heavy rains. We never thought such a situation would arise in Udhampur. Earlier such things used to happen in Ramban and other places. But this time, there was intense downpour in Udhampur.”
Asked about the damage to houses, he said a large number of them has either been destroyed completely or rendered uninhabitable.
“I have asked the deputy commissioner to look into all such cases where people have lost their homes and whether they need to be rehabilitated somewhere else,” he said, adding that whatever is required will be done as “the safe evacuation and rehabilitation of the calamity-hit people is our responsibility.”
Earlier, the chief minister inspected a damaged portion of the highway at Maroog and said, “I was told by officials from the National Highways Authority of India and the district administration that there is an alternative road (in Maroog). They are working on this route to enable two-way traffic,” he said.
Abdullah said he was told that full restoration of the Srinagar-Jammu highway may take 20 to 25 days, but two-way traffic could be made possible on the alternative route shortly.
Unlike before, the most problematic area this time is not the Ramban-Banihal stretch but is in Udhampur sector, he said. “Until repair work in Udhampur is complete, normal traffic movement cannot resume,” he added.
Abdullah said most of the internal roads have been thrown open and work is progressing rapidly on three other routes that remain closed.
Commenting on the cloudburst in Rajgarh tehsil of Ramban on Saturday, which claimed four lives and left one person missing, the chief minister said he has already ordered ex gratia relief for the victims’ families.
“The local MLA briefed me about the incident. The deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police were on ground and disbursed immediate relief under Red Cross norms. We will take all necessary steps to rehabilitate the victims,” he assured.
Abdullah added that those affected by the cloudburst in Ramban a few months ago had similarly received assistance under State Disaster Response Fund and Red Cross norms.
The Chief Minister also interacted with locals at Balli Nallah and Thard in Udhampur district, whose houses have been damaged by landslides and said that safe relocation of landslide-affected families is his government’s first priority, followed by their comprehensive rehabilitation.
Assuring them of full government support, Abdullah directed the district administration to immediately provide ration, clean drinking water, restore power supply, set up temporary shelters, and provide other assistance to the affected families.
“The first priority is the safe relocation of the affected families from the vulnerable areas, followed by a comprehensive rehabilitation programme once connectivity is restored,” the chief minister said.
Meanwhile, police evacuated three families from the far-flung areas of Surni and Jandror in Udhampur district after their houses started developing cracks due to landslides.
A team from the Ghordi police police reached the affected villages and assisted the landslide-hit families in shifting their belongings and other essentials, a police spokesman said.
The timely intervention helped three families move to safer places before their houses collapsed, he said.
Hundreds of houses have been damaged by landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods across the Jammu division owing to record rainfall earlier this week.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has issued a forecast of light to moderate rainfall across most areas of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, September 2.
MET Center Srinagar in its latest weather report said that very heavy to extremely heavy rain is likely over Kathua, Doda, Udhampur and Reasi, while heavy to very heavy showers are expected in Jammu, Samba, Ramban, Rajouri and Kishtwar.
The MeT further said that parts of south Kashmir and Poonch may also witness moderate to heavy rainfall during the day. Authorities have urged people in vulnerable areas to remain cautious.
Meanwhile, authorities on Sunday ordered a safety audit of all school buildings across Jammu division, which has been battered by heavy rains and flash floods over the past week, even as the closure of schools in the region was extended till Monday.
In a letter addressed to all chief education officers, the Directorate of School Education Jammu asked them to approach the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department for a safety audit of all government school buildings on priority.
“It is to convey that in view of the continuous heavy rains, landslides in hilly areas, and flood-like situations across Jammu Division, it is imperative to ensure the structural safety of all school buildings,” the letter said, adding that the safety certificates must be obtained from the competent authorities immediately and proceed accordingly.
Earlier, School Education Director Naseem Javaid Chowdhary said all government and private schools will remain closed across Jammu on Monday, citing incessant rain and landslides in the region.
The schools remained closed this week as a precautionary measure amid weather advisories.
Meanwhile, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has sought donation from all its staff including judges to help victims of the recent cloudburst and flash floods in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to an order issued by registrar vigilance (for registrar general), High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Rajeev Gupta, all the members of the Jammu and Srinagar wings of the High Court Bar Association were also requested to contribute voluntarily for the victims.
The order was issued pursuant to the appeal made by Chief Justice Arun Palli to donate towards the relief fund of the government of J-K in view of the devastation caused by the recent cloudbursts followed by flash floods.
The order said all the judges of the high court will contribute Rs 20,000 each, district judges Rs 10,000 each, civil judges (senior division) Rs 7,000 each, civil judges (junior division) Rs 5,000 each, gazetted officers of high court and district judiciary Rs 5,000 each, non-gazetted officials Rs 1,000 each, registrar judicial(s) of both the wings of the high court Rs 1,000 each.
Seeking a list of contributors, the order said the registrar general would issue a consolidated cheque of the entire deposited amount to the government of J-K.
