Ramban, Apr 26 (KNO): In his third visit to Ramban in a short span, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday reviewed the situation and progress of relief and restoration efforts in the flood-affected areas of the district.
Touring extensively the severely impacted Dharmkund area and chairing a high-level review meeting in Ramban, the Chief Minister assessed the extent of damages and the ongoing response operations.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister emphasized that his primary purpose was to reassure the people of Ramban that the government stands firmly with them during this challenging time. He reiterated that despite the tragic incident in Pahalgam, the government continues to prioritize relief and rehabilitation work in Ramban.
“My primary purpose in coming here was to assure the people of Ramban that, although there was a very serious incident in Pahalgam, we have not forgotten Ramban,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said.
He said that he didn’t want the people of Ramban to feel that all our attention is now focused only on Pahalgam, and that Ramban has been neglected. “Therefore, as soon as my work in Srinagar eased, I immediately came to Ramban, met my colleagues, met the administration, and reviewed the situation here,” he said.
The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the District Administration, particularly Deputy Commissioner Ramban, and Senior Superintendent of Police, for their swift and coordinated response, which led to the restoration of traffic on NH-44 within 24 hours alongside the simultaneous launch of rescue and restoration operations.
He noted visible improvements along the National Highway and other affected regions, resulting in smoother vehicular movement and relief to stranded and affected populations.
Stressing the importance of long-term rehabilitation, the Chief Minister directed the District Administration to identify land for resettling displaced families and to allot five marlas of land to each affected family. He further stated that disaster management planning for Jammu and Kashmir will be reoriented to address the climatic changes witnessed in recent years.
“I have instructed the administration and the Deputy Commissioner that many people have not only lost their houses but also the land on which their houses stood. I have directed the DC to identify an alternate site, and once that is done, we will provide plots of five-marlas of land to the affected families,” the Chief Minister said.
Responding to concerns raised by public representatives, the Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to submit a proposal for the provision of three months’ free ration to residents of affected areas.
He also instructed officials to assess the need for a special relief package for individuals who have suffered commercial losses and damages to shops and business establishments, supplementing the assistance available under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
“Under the SDRF norms, commercial losses are not compensated. Nevertheless, I have asked the DC to prepare a proposal under SDRF provisions, whether for relief to commercial establishments or for providing free ration to those who have suffered the most. We are committed to approving these proposals once submitted,” CM Omar Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister informed that funds under the SDRF have already been released and assured liberal financial support for relief, rehabilitation, and restoration activities in Ramban. He emphasized that the government is working through a phased approach focusing on rescue, recovery, restoration, and rebuilding to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by DDC Chairperson Dr. Shamshad Shan, MLA Banihal Sajad Shaheen, MLA Ramban Arjun Singh Raju, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, SSP Ramban Kulbir Singh, SSP Traffic NHW Raja Adil Hamid and other senior officers.
During the review meeting, DDC Chairperson, MLAs, and other officials flagged several urgent issues requiring immediate attention.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner briefed the Chief Minister on the situation and the measures undertaken. He reported that three human lives were lost, over 1,000 livestock perished, and 11 key locations along the National Highway were severely affected. A total of 93 vehicles were recovered, and 496 structures sustained damage. Of the 27 Jal Shakti Department schemes affected, nine have been partially restored. Approximately 80,498 kanals of agricultural land and 46 schools also suffered damage.
To respond effectively, the District Administration established control rooms and camp offices near affected sites under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), set up multiple relocation centres equipped with basic amenities, and relocated 45 families from Dharmkund to NHPC Colony and 24 families from Kow Bagh and Pernote to Maitra Community Hall. Teams from NDRF, SDRF, Civil QRT and various NGOs were mobilized for immediate assistance. Twenty-six ambulances were deployed for emergencies, and ration was distributed among stranded truck drivers.
In addition, ration supplies were transported on ponies along the Sencha–Bhagna road to ensure delivery to remote households. Adequate manpower and machinery have been deployed for restoration work across the district.
The Deputy Commissioner further informed that ex-gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh each has been disbursed to the families of all three deceased individuals from Red Cross funds—(KNO)