STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), deputed by the Government of India, on Friday visited the flood and rain-affected areas of Udhampur district to assess the damages caused by the recent natural calamities.
The team inspected several affected sites, including Malhar and Thard, as well as stretches of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway NH-44, to evaluate the extent of losses. During the visit, the IMCT interacted with the local administration and reviewed the ground situation.
They were accompanied by Member Legislative Assembly Chenani Balwant Singh Mankotia, Additional Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Prem Singh and other senior officers from various line departments, who briefed them on damages caused to infrastructure, agriculture, housing and other sectors.
Following the field inspection, a detailed meeting was convened in the Conference Hall DC Office Complex Udhampur.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Rajinder Singh; Additional SP Sandeep Bhat; Assistant Commissioner Revenue Dr. Umesh Shan; Chief Planning Officer Uttam Singh, along with other senior officers of line departments.
At the outset, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Saloni Rai presented a comprehensive PowerPoint briefing on rescue and relief operations, restoration measures, rehabilitation efforts and damages to crops, private property, government infrastructure, agricultural land and residential houses. She informed the team that 38 relief camps have been established across the district, sheltering over 2,000 affected persons, with the administration ensuring food, shelter and other essential supplies.
The IMCT was also apprised that around 380 roads have been damaged, of which 190 have already been restored. Connectivity has been re-established in almost all areas, except certain parts of Dudu-Basantgarh and Moungri, where restoration work is still in progress.
Essential supplies and communication networks are being monitored on a daily basis, with focused efforts to improve road connectivity as weather conditions permit.
The visit of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team underscores the commitment of the Government of India to extend all possible support and assistance to the affected regions, ensuring timely relief, rehabilitation and restoration for the people of Udhampur.
Meanwhile, An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), also visited Reasi district on Friday to review the damages caused by recent heavy rains and natural calamities.
The team inspected several affected sites, including the Domel-Katra highway, the landslide-affected Ballani Bridge and the landslide site near Shani Mandir, Katra, to evaluate the extent of losses. They interacted with the local administration to assess the on-ground situation. A member of the team, accompanied by the Chief Agriculture Officer also visited agricultural fields to review crop damage and interacted with farmers to understand their concerns.
The IMCT was accompanied by ADDC Sukhdev Singh Samyal; ADC Rakesh Kumar, SDM Katra Piyush Dhotra and senior officers from various line departments, who provided detailed briefings on damages to infrastructure, agriculture, housing and other sectors.
After the field inspections, a comprehensive review meeting was held at the Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra, where Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Ms. Nidhi Malik, made a detailed presentation on loss of lives, livestock, damage to crops, community assets and infrastructure. She also apprised the team about the ongoing restoration works in the district and presented a detailed PowerPoint briefing covering rescue and relief operations, rehabilitation measures, and damages to private property, government infrastructure, agricultural land and residential houses.
The Deputy Commissioner further informed the team that relief camps have been set up in Mahore, Jameslan and Sarh to shelter the affected population, where the administration is ensuring food, shelter, medical care and other essential supplies.
During the interaction with district officers and SDMs, the IMCT suggested strengthening community-based disaster preparedness, ensuring timely compensation to affected families, and prioritizing the restoration of critical infrastructure to minimize long-term impacts.
The visit of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team reflects the Government of India’s commitment to extend all possible support to the affected regions, ensuring timely relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts for the people of Reasi district.