KATHUA: District Administration organised relief and rescue operations at various places in Kathua with assistance of police, Civil Defense and locals. At Rajbagh 55 persons were rescued from flooded Ujh River, three persons were rescued at Kore Punnu in Hiranagar and three in Billawar.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary along with SSP Mohan Lal, SDM Hiranagar, Sohan Lal, Tehsildars and SHOs of Kathua and Hiranagar visited various areas in Kathua, Ujjh, Raj Bagh Hiranagar and Lakhanpur and inspected the damage to private and public property and supervised relief and rescue operations. Damages have been reported by Irrigation Department, municipal committee, revenue and other departments.
District Red Cross Society established a relief camp for 55 rescued persons at Rajbagh where SDM Hiranagar and SHO Rajbagh camped for assistance to families. Ration, biscuits, pre-cooked foods, medicines, safe drinking water and other facilities were made available at the camp. The DC inspected the establishment of camp and assured the families about all assistance being extended by district administration. Ten tents have been set up and two buildings made available for camp.A joint control room for disaster management has been established in DC Office headed by Addl Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Ramaswami including officials from Revenue, CAPD, Flood Control, Rural Development, Red Cross and Police.
Meanwhile Tehsildar Billawar Manmeet Kumar and SHO Billawar led the rescue operation for three persons trapped in an island and shifted to hospital. SDM Basohli and SDM Bani supervised the operations in respective areas; road connectivity to Bani remained hampered for second consecutive day. Ujh River crossed the danger mark of 60,000 Cusecs and marked 1,06,217 cusecs at 13:00 PM.
As many as 41 houses were damaged partially and 10 houses fully. Relief has been rushed to affected areas by the district administration and arrangements made for civil supplies and essential services.
