Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister to Assess Flood Damage in Poonch District

Chief Minister's Visit to Flood-Affected Areas

Jammu, August 5 - The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, is set to visit the Poonch district on Wednesday to evaluate the situation on the ground following recent floods and landslides. Last month, heavy rainfall in this border district resulted in the tragic loss of 16 lives, with six individuals still unaccounted for. According to a post from the Chief Minister's office on social media, 'The Chief Minister will visit Poonch today to meet with those affected by the recent floods and directly assess the damage and relief needs.'

He will also review the relief, rehabilitation, and restoration efforts in collaboration with district administration.

Officials reported that the Chief Minister arrived in Poonch via the historic Mughal Road, where he was welcomed by his cabinet colleague and Minister for Water Resources, Javed Ahmed Rana, along with Surankot MLA Chaudhary Mohammad Akram. Senior administrative and police officials accompanied him during the visit. Surankot was the most severely impacted area during the natural disaster that struck on July 19, resulting in the highest number of casualties.

The torrential rains led to incidents of cloudbursts, sudden flooding, and landslides, causing widespread devastation. Numerous homes and vehicles were swept away, and significant damage was inflicted on roads and other infrastructure, affecting hundreds of families across the district. Officials indicated that the Chief Minister will tour the affected areas, meet with the families of the deceased, and assess the damage caused by the floods and landslides.

On July 19, Abdullah held a high-level meeting with senior officials in Jammu to review the post-rain situation. He announced a compensation of six lakh rupees for the families of those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Poonch and the adjacent Rajouri district. In Rajouri, three fatalities were reported, with one person still missing.

Officials also mentioned that the Chief Minister is likely to visit Rajouri district today.