POONCH : In a meeting of district officers, the prominent citizens, members of social organizations and political leaders the situation arising out of incessant rains and flash floods was discussed by Deputy Commissioner Poonch M.A Malilk on Thursday.
He said that three Tehsils of district Poonch have been put on high alert after a flash flood, biggest since 1959, which declines to relent adding movement of vehicles has been stopped while people in the flood prone areas have been moved to safer places. Approach road to the Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge has been damaged and several adjoining buildings have been washed away and electricity snapped whereas several other bridges in the district have also been washed away which has led to many areas being cut off he said adding that there has been a massive loss to property while seven lives have been lost and three girls were injured in a house collapse in village Lassana, Tehsil Surankote. Many people are still trapped at Potha, Sanai and Khanetar where efforts are being made to rescue them but due to bad weather conditions authorities are not being able to use helicopters”.
He informed all the people present about the instant measures that administration took to avert the loss of lives. He assured them that the road connectivity and electricity supply will be restored at the earliest. “Special Gen Sets have been arranged to ensure supply of drinking water by today evening. Army and the civil administration are working in close coordination since yesterday morning, he said mentioning that he has also requested for helicopters but due to bad weather they couldn’t take off, said DDC. He also informed that a rescue team from Rajouri will soon reach Surankote where some people have been trapped in the flood water. He also assured them that the administration is ready to meet the demand of civil supplies and this morning 10 kg and 15 kg bags of Atta and rice have been packed by the CAPD which will be distributed amongst the affected families depending upon the number of family members. “Those people who have lost their homes are being relocated to safer places and if needed tents will also be provided to them” he said. Malik appreciated the role of religious institutions especially Zia-Ul-Uloom and Sanatan Dharam Sabha for their cooperation in providing food and comfortable night stay to number of affected families. He asked everyone to cooperate with the administration and work together to restore the life of the affected people to normalcy.
Several prominent citizens of Poonch who spoke in the meeting appreciated the proactive role of the district administration in taking prompt measures by timely vacating the people from flood prone areas. They also lauded the personal visits of the Deputy Commissioner to several flood hit areas. Many speakers asked the Deputy Commissioner to do something tangible in flood control so that the people of Poonch do not go through this ordeal again. They assured every help to the district administration in managing this natural disaster.
The district level officers including ADDC, ADC, ACR, ACD and Tehsildars have been assigned particular flood hit areas and they are constantly monitoring the situation in close coordination with the army.
The Deputy Commissioner has also ordered that all the educational institutions both government and private shall remain closed on 4th and 5th of September.