IMCT visits Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam; takes stock of relief, rehabilitation measures

STATE TIMES NEWS

ANANTNAG: The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), constituted by the Central Government on Monday visited Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam to assess the damages caused by recent heavy rainfall and natural calamities in the districts.
The team also held brief meeting with the district administrations and held detailed deliberations on the relief and rehabilitation measures being carried out.
The team comprising Col. K.P. Singh, Joint Secretary & Advisor (Ops & Comm), NDMAl; Navin Kumar Chauraisa, Regional Officer, MoRTH Jammu; Arti Singh, Deputy Director Ministry of Power; Dr Vikram Singh, Joint Director, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Shachi Jain, Director Ministry of Jal Shakti; Kandarp V Patel, Deputy Secretary FCD and Rakesh Kumar, Under Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development.
In Anantnag, Deputy Commissioner, presented a detailed briefing to the team covering the extent of damages, relief measures undertaken like evacuation of vulnerable families, provision of temporary shelters, restoration of connectivity, and health and sanitation interventions as well as the requirements for long-term rehabilitation.
During the meeting, a comprehensive plan for flood mitigation and resilience-building was also discussed to strengthen long-term disaster preparedness in the district.
The IMCT, along with district officials, thereafter conducted a spot visit to various affected areas to assess damages on the ground, including river embankments, roads, nallahs, and public infrastructure, besides reviewing immediate restoration priorities.
The IMCT, during the visit, highlighted that the Union Government is closely monitoring the situation at the highest levels and will extend full financial and logistical support for relief, rehabilitation, and long-term mitigation measures in Anantnag district.
The IMCT also held a review meeting to assess the damages caused by recent floods and incessant rainfall across district Shopian as well as relief and rehabilitation measures carried out by district administration.
Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, Shishir Gupta, presented a detailed assessment of damages suffered in Shopian district before the IMCT members which included senior officers from NDMA, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Jal Shakti, MoRTH, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Power and Finance.
During the meeting, DC Shopian gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation covering the disaster preparedness framework. He informed the team that Shopian, spread over seven tehsils, although comparatively less vulnerable to floods than other districts, has suffered damages to public infrastructure including Roads, Bridges, Water Supply Schemes, Power assets and standing crops and houses of lower riparian villages in Zainapora sub division.
DC Shopian also briefed on immediate restoration of services which were disrupted during floods and relief and rescue measures carried out in the district.
DC Shopian informed the IMCT that in Shopian district, 2 out of 6 major 33 KV lines,16 feeders,13 transformers and 19 electric poles were affected and have been restored; 55 out of 92 drinking water supply schemes were impacted and all have been restored, 25 roads were damaged of which 24 stand restored and 1 is under restoration besides PMGSY road length of about 860 metres was damaged.
The DC also apprised the IMCT that Mughal Road at KM 24 witnessed severe damage due to sliding and efforts are on to keep it open 24*7.
It was further informed that 28 villages in low lying areas covering 4284 hectares with a population of 17,200 were impacted, 4 villages namely Hydergund, Zainapora, Melahura/Wandina and Reshipora were directly hit, 21 shelter sheds were established, 129 families evacuated and 644 persons rescued.
The DC also briefed that 11 residential houses have been damaged while crop and orchard losses are being assessed.
The DC informed the team that Shopian administration has already initiated both short-term restoration measures and long-term resilience planning. He added that protective and restoration works like crate bunds, embankments and flood protection measures have been initiated at Hydergund, Zainapora, Safanagri and other vulnerable spots.
At Kulgam, the team took stock of relief, rehabilitation and restoration measures in the aftermath of recent floods in the district.
The team took detailed assessment and review of damages caused by recent floods, cloudbursts, and landslides in the district.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Athar Aamir Khan; Senior officers of district administration and engineers from key departments like PWD (R&B), Jal Shakti, Irrigation & Flood Control, KPDCL, PMGSY, and senior officers of Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, FSC, and Revenue departments.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner presented a overview of the recent flood situation in the district.
Addressing the officers in the meeting, the IMCT said that the observations and recommendations as well as damage report will be shared with the Union Government to ensure immediate relief as well as long-term resilience planning for the district.
Later, the IMCT team also visited various flood affected areas of the district including Khudwani and Qaimoo to gather on-ground assessment of the damages caused. The team also interacted with the general public and took stock of their demands and suggestions.
They assured the locals that these observations and suggestions will be shared with the Government of India to ensure immediate relief as well as long-term resilience planning for Kulgam district.