Anantnag, Mar 21 (KNO): Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo Friday visited Kadipora, Anantnag, to express solidarity with the families affected by the devastating fire incident yesterday.
MLAs Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, Abdul Majeed Larmi and Altaf Ahmad Wani, DC Anantnag Syed Fakhruddin Hamid and other senior officers of district administration also accompanied the Minister.
During the visit, Sakeena personally interacted with the victims, assessed their grievances and took stock of the ongoing relief measures.
While interacting with the affected families on the occasion, the Minister assured them all possible assistance from the government. “On the directions of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, my team of MLAs are here to stand in solidarity with you. Our government will provide you all possible support and assistance to overcome this tragic loss”, Sakeena stated.
She added that the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the relief measures and was in constant contact with the district administration from last night to gather on ground details of this devastating fire incident. “The tragic loss suffered by fire affected families is heart-wrenching and cannot be compensated in words. But our government is shoulder to shoulder with you in this hour of distress and will ensure that all necessary aid and support reaches you without delay”, she said.
The Minister also urged the Deputy Commissioner to expedite the rehabilitation process. She emphasized on the need for immediate relief, including temporary shelter, food supplies and financial aid to help the victims rebuild their lives.
She also called upon the district administration to conduct a thorough assessment of damages and provide swift compensation to the affected households.
While addressing the concerns of local residents and fire victims regarding need for preventive measures to avert such incidents in future, Sakeena Itoo assured them that the government will look out the possibility for decongesting this locality besides fire safety infrastructure in the locality will also be enhanced.
Later, the Minister also chaired a meeting with the senior officers of district administration and took detailed assessment of relief as well as immediate rehabilitation measures.
During the meeting, the Minister impressed upon the Deputy Commissioner to ensure temporary shelter facilities for these fire affected families. She asked the district administration to arrange suitable bedding and other essential things for these victims.
The Minister also gave directions for providing timber to affected families on immediate basis in order to make them sustainable.
Sakeena called upon the officers to keep a medical team available to deal with any kind of exigency. She also asked the officers of health department to keep sufficient stock of medicines and other essential equipments available.
The Minister further called upon the district administration for immediate assessment of the losses and make swift arrangement for due assistance to affected families.
Pertinently, in a devastating fire incident, more than 30 houses affecting around 45 families were gutted in congested old town Kadipora of South Kashmir's Anantnag district—(KNO)