Centre sends inter-ministerial team to Jammu for rain-induced damage review

Jammu, Sep 3: Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and an inter-ministerial team led by Joint Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority, Col. Kirti Pratap Singh, reviewed the scale of damage caused by recent rains, flash floods and landslides across the Jammu region.

The Government of India has deputed an inter-ministerial central team for on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the wake of flash floods, cloud bursts and landslides that caused extensive damage in the Jammu Division. The team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Roads, Transports and Highways, the Ministry of Power, the Ministry of Rural Development, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Finance, will visit the affected areas over the next four days.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner JMC, Managing Director JPDCL, Directors of Rural Development, Food & Civil Supplies, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, HoDs and officials of PWD, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, NHAI, Railways and concerned departments and agencies.

During the meeting, a detailed PowerPoint presentation was given, explaining the scale of damages to private property, public infrastructure and loss of lives.

The Divisional Commissioner apprised the members of the central team about the affected areas and extent of damages caused to the essential infrastructure, including roads, power supply and water supply schemes.

He also briefed the meeting about the efforts being made on a war footing to save precious lives with the assistance and support of security forces, emergency responders, NDRF, UTDRF, police, army, and CAPFs.

The meeting also discussed the challenging situation that arose due to incessant rains, flash floods and landslides that disrupted normal life in the region. A threadbare discussion was held on damage to roads, power infrastructure, and water supply and the efforts being made to restore the same.

Over the next four days, the inter-ministerial team will conduct detailed on-the-ground visits to the affected areas to assess the actual scale of losses and damages in the districts of the Jammu division. It shall then submit a detailed report to the Government of India.