DODA: Divisional Commissioner Jammu Shantmanu along with Inspector General of Police Jammu Rajesh Kumar today visited Doda and reviewed the damages caused to public life and property in Doda and Kishtwar Districts and the actions taken by the concerned District Administration regarding relief, rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people in wake of recent floods that lashed the entire region.
While giving first hand information about the quantum of damages to roads, public life and property, water supply schemes, agricultural and horticultural crops, power supply, public utilities, livestock and rescue, restoration and rehabilitation process in the District, the District Development Commissioner Doda Shyam Vinod Meena informed that about 172 houses are fully damaged in the District.
About 90 per cent of roads and water supply schemes are temporarily restored and there is sufficient stock of tents with District Administration for distribution to the affected families. He also highlighted the efforts of District Administration Doda to provide help to the people of the District who are stranded in the Kashmir, he said that a team of officers/officials and volunteers of District Red Cross Society Doda along with two vehicles: one for transporting back the stranded people of Doda and another for handing over to Red Cross Society Srinagar has been deputed under the supervision of GM DIC Doda Dil Mir Choudhary. He further revealed that a payment of Rs. 5 lakh in the form of cheque from District Red Cross Society Doda to Red Cross Society Srinagar was also sent through the team visiting the valley.
At Kishtwar, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Mohd. Javaid Khan, briefed the visiting team about the damages caused to houses, public utilities, livestock, roads, power supply, water supply schemes, stock position of various essential commodities and the immediate requirement of the administration about the relief measures in the District and particularly in the Marwah, Warwan, Dachhan, Padder and Machail areas of Kishtwar District. He informed that about 10 villages in the District having about 1000 houses require evacuation as the villages are unsafe for habitation. He also revealed that 80% of the roads have been restored and 123 Water supply schemes of PHE suffered damages, besides 35 power stations were also reported to have been damaged due to recent rains. Besides the requirement of tents for temporary shelter, airlifting of essential commodities to unconnected areas of the District and requirement of funds among other issues were also highlighted by the Deputy Commissioner.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu directed the Deputy Commissioners to submit a detailed report of damages in their respective District within three days, besides stressed upon 100 per cent restoration of essential services and supplies. He also stressed on the formation of joint teams of civil and police officers at niabat level for timely, effective and on ground assessment of the damages caused due to rains and speedy restoration of minor damages. He also directed SSP’s of the districts to coordinate with District administration and depute their personals for joint supervision of the restoration works on roads , water supply schemes among other public utilities.
IGP Jammu Rajesh Kumar while addressing the meeting highlighted the steps and initiatives that should be taken to mitigate the losses caused by the natural calamities, he directed all the SSP’s to use their resources and man power effectively to minimize the losses caused by the disasters.
DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range A.A Wani, SSP Doda M.S Chouhan, SSP Kishtwar. Sanjay Kotwal, ADC Doda Imam Din, ACR Doda S.C Dogra, SDM Bhaderwah, Bupinder Kumar, SDM Gandoh, besides other District and Sector officer of Doda and Kishtwar Districts attended the meeting.