JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that those rendered landless by the recent cloudburst would be provided five-marla plots.
He also said his government would explore the adoption of advanced early-warning systems to strengthen disaster preparedness and minimise the loss of lives and property in the future.
Abdullah visited the flood-affected areas of the Poonch district to assess the devastation caused by the recent flash floods and cloudbursts, met the affected families and reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the district administration.
During the visit, the chief minister met bereaved families in Murrah, Surankote and Arigam-Loran, expressed his condolences and assured them of the government’s support.
At Murrah, the chief minister visited the residence of Mohammad Latif, who lost eight members of his family in the flash floods.
In Surankote, Abdullah interacted with affected families and a delegation from Sangla, Darra Sangla and Lower Sangla. The delegation apprised him of the damage caused to residential houses, agricultural land and infrastructure, besides the loss of lives.
Abdullah also visited Arigam-Loran, where he met the family of Mohd Rafiq and Riaz Ahmed, who lost seven members of their family in the flash floods. He participated in ‘Fatiha Khwani’ and prayed for the departed souls.
Announcing a major rehabilitation measure, Abdullah said that the families which have been rendered landless due to the disaster, would be provided five-marla plots for their resettlement.
Referring to the unprecedented nature of the disaster, the chief minister said it was unfortunate that cloudbursts remain difficult to predict with the existing technological capabilities.
He said the government would explore the adoption of advanced early-warning technologies to improve disaster preparedness and help minimise the loss of lives and property in the future.
Later, he chaired a review meeting to assess the rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the district administration in the aftermath of the disaster.
He commended Poonch Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Shafqat Hussain for their proactive leadership and timely interventions that helped save lives and ensure swift assistance to the affected population, an official spokesman said. — (PTI)