Anantnag/Kulgam, Sept 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday visited several flood-affected areas of Anantnag and Kulgam districts to take stock of damages caused by heavy rains, directing the administration to expedite relief, rehabilitation and long-term flood prevention measures.
In Anantnag, Omar Abdullah, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo and Javed Ahmad Rana, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani and local MLAs, inspected the worst-hit localities including Mehandi Kadal, Janglaat Mandi, Deva Colony and Ashajipora Bridge. Residents of Ganjiwara urged early completion of the flood shed pump and repairs to roads and drainage systems in Eidgah Colony.
At a review meeting, the Deputy Commissioner briefed the Chief Minister about rescue operations, shelter homes, deployment of sandbags, restoration of services and waterlogging issues. The Chief Minister directed that permanent restoration of Jal Shakti (PHE) infrastructure, coordination of tanker services, and strengthening of utility services be taken up on priority. He also ordered special teams to assess damages to agricultural land, horticultural crops and stranded trucks carrying fruit.
Omar Abdullah stressed long-term flood mitigation measures such as dredging of rivers and streams, setting up dewatering pumps and strengthening embankments. “We must plan comprehensively to prevent recurrence of such devastation,” he said.
In Kulgam, the Chief Minister, along with Deputy CM Surinder Singh Choudhary, Ministers, Advisor Wani, MLA Peerzada Feroz, Deputy Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan and SSP Sahil Sarangal, toured Khudwani, Aadigatnoo, Gudder, Laisoo and other affected localities. He interacted with displaced families and assured them of timely assistance.
At the Mini Secretariat review, the Deputy Commissioner detailed evacuation efforts, damage to roads, bridges and utilities, and ongoing restoration works. The Chief Minister appreciated the timely evacuations by the administration and directed departments including PDD, Jal Shakti and Irrigation & Flood Control to work in mission mode.
He also emphasized immediate crop and horticulture loss assessment for compensation and warned against illegal mining, directing strict enforcement to curb the practice.
Reiterating his government’s commitment, Omar Abdullah said: “We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people in this testing time. Relief, rehabilitation and long-term planning will be pursued with urgency and seriousness.”
