UDHAMPUR: To assess the loss of lives and damages caused to property by flash floods and landslides, Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla, on Wednesday visited remote villages Panjer, Saddal and Muttal in Panchari of Udhampur District.
Bhalla expressed sympathies with the affected families and issued directions to the officers to immediately undertake rescue operations so that the loss of life and property could be minimised.
The minister directed the revenue officers for making report of damages of loss of lives and property. He appealed to the people to come directly to the respective Patwaris of their areas to determine the authenticity of the case for making claims of loss of lives and house damages. He directed to provide medicines; tents, Tarpals, ration and other required infrastructure for all the flood and landslide hit families of Panjer and Muttal villages.
Regarding restoration of damaged public infrastructure including road connectivity, drinking water supply, power, the minister asked the concerned officers to ensure that all works are done on priority so that damages are restricted to the minimum and people do not suffer due to non availability of required men and machinery.
It was apprised by the DDC Udhampur that 21 people have lost their lives in flash floods and house collapses in Udhampur District so far.
He said relief and rescue operations were undertaken by the Air Defence Brigade located at the Dhar Road in Sattani and Talpad villages of Udhampur district.
Earlier, Bhalla visited Bandhu Rakh and inspected the damage caused to Bandhu Rakh-Bishnah Bridge which was washed away due to flash floods.
The minister asked the R&B officers to immediately restore the damages of the bridge so that road connectivity to Bandhu Rakh-Bishnah people could be restored at the earliest.