DDC inspects damages due to cloudburst; restoration works

RAJOURI, JUNE 18: District Administration today conducted a detailed inspection of losses due to cloudbursts and resultant flashfloods in various area of Thannamandi sub-division which were reported over last three days leading to massive damage.

District Development Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary along with ADDC A.S Chib, ACR A.Q Mir, SDM Afzal Mirza, Executive Engineers PWD M.A Raina, Nissar Khan, EM&RE Munshi Khan, PMGSY Zubair Ahmed, I&FC Sunil Koul, Chief Agriculture Officer, CHO and other district officers conducted a comprehensive survey of losses inflicted due to cloudburst and requisite restoration measures.

The team visited Plangarh, Behrote, Lah, Sorah and Khablan villages. In Khablan village, the entire agriculture crop and land has been damaged due to debris. A large number of irrigation canals, flood protection works, bunds and water supply lines have been washed away.

Major damages were reported to private property including livestock and houses. Six houses have been damaged beyond repair and more than a dozen affected partially. A number of animals were reported to have been washed away out of which some carcasses have been traced meanwhile damage report was formulated by revenue and sheep husbandry departments for extending relief assistance.

The DDC informed that Department of Disaster Management, J&K is taking up relief and restoration on top priority and compensation cases of previous massive losses have already been submitted to the department in addition to the immediate relief provided. The district administration extended an assistance of Rs. 1 Lakh each to the owners of damaged houses and approved compensation for loss of livestock.

The restoration works started by the departments were also reviewed. Meanwhile, Rural Development Department has been entrusted with deepening and training of affected rivulets as well as other rivulets prone to flooding due to large catchment areas. PMGSY department has pressed its machinery into action for debris clearance.

In view of demand raised by the public, the DDC directed Chief Agriculture Department to provide seeds on 100 per cent subsidy to affected farmers and revenue department will provide assistance for debris clearance as per the approved permissible rates notified by the Department of Disaster Management. In recent cloudburst, 70 Hectares area under maize and 20 Hectares area under Paddy was completely damaged.

Public meetings were held at various places to ascertain the losses, pace of assessment and restoration measures. The general public appreciated the prompt response of departments in rescue and restoration and asked for early release of compensation which was assured to be taken up with Disaster Management department.