MHA team arrives in Kashmir to assess flood damage

Srinagar, Sep 07: A team from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) arrived in Kashmir on Saturday to assess the damage caused by the recent spell of heavy rainfall that triggered floods in parts of the Valley, officials said.

The team is scheduled to conduct on-the-spot inspections of affected areas, review the ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures, and interact with local authorities to understand the scale of losses.

Earlier this week, several parts of south and central Kashmir were inundated after the swollen Jhelum River breached its banks, damaging homes, infrastructure and standing crops. While no loss of life was reported in the Valley, the deluge has inflicted heavy losses on agriculture and horticulture, particularly paddy fields and apple orchards.

The central team has already visited flood-hit areas of Jammu, which has been the worst affected. Jammu and Kashmir has been reeling under adverse weather conditions for the past month, with Jammu bearing the maximum brunt. Around 150 people have lost their lives in flash floods and landslides, while several key roads, including the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, remain blocked, hampering connectivity and relief operations.

Officials said the fresh visit by the MHA team is part of efforts to gauge the scale of damage and consider additional assistance for recovery in the union territory.

JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and several political leaders have sought a relief package from the Centre for the flood-affected regions.