KISHTWAR: Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh and Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer personally supervised the rescue and relief operation in the cloudburst hit Hounzar village of Tehsil Dachhan during their two day visit to the area.
The officers trekked on foot for total 34 kms (both sides) to get the first hand information amidst difficult terrain and continuous rainfall. Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Ashok Sharma; DIG DKR range Uday Bhaskar Billa; SSP Kishtwar Shafqat Hussain Butt; ADC Kishtwar, Kishori Lal Sharma; SDM Marwah Dr. Mohsin Raza, DFO Marwah, Vijay Kumar; Executove Engineer PMGSY Mohd. Aslam Lone besides other officers, the team of officers supervised and monitored the rescue operation being conducted by the teams of SDRF, NDRF, Police, military, district administration and locals. The Div Com and ADGP conducted on-site inspection of devastation caused by flash floods which were triggered by excessive rain and cloudburst.
It was informed that 7 people have died and several are reported as missing after the cloudburst hit the village. However, 17 people were rescued by the rescue teams and the survivors with serious injuries are undergoing treatment. Indian Air Force (IAF) had pressed three helicopters from Jammu, Srinagar and Udhampur and made eight sorties, transferring relief load of 2250 kgs, 44 NDRF and SRDF personnel and four medical assistants besides evacuating two critically injured persons from Soundar to Kishtwar for specialised treatment. Six teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with sophisticated equipment are involved in the operation along with other rescuers from police, Army and local volunteers, the officials said. During the visit, the Div Com and ADGP met with the villagers and victims and also inquired about the operation being conducted by the rescue teams. The locals demanded the constitution of a Rehabilitation Committee to facilitate the provision of Relief and Rehabilitation of the affected people in an efficient and transparent manner.
They demanded for the employment of the NOKs of the deceased on immediate basis besides restoration of essential services like electricity, water supply and other relief measures. The Div Com listened to their grievances and said that the government is at their doorstep to provide each and every possible relief in these tough times. Besides, he assured them that directions have been issued to the concerned officers for making all provisions for restoring normal life in the area. He directed SDM Marwah to expedite the process of disbursement of compensation as per SDRF norms as already announced by UT govt to be extended into the accounts of the victims on immediate basis. Further, DFO was to repair the damaged infrastructure likes bridges etc as per SDRF rules urgently. Besides directed the heads of all the concerned department to assess the damages in livestock etc for necessary actions. Enroute, he also met with delegations at Suid, Sounder and Hanzer and listened their demands and suffering being faced by them. People demanded public health centre at Housar, establishment of Helipad at Hounzar, besides demanded timber for suffer, special SPO recruitment, establishment of bank branch at Suid.
He assured them that all their genuine demands and issues shall be redressed at an earliest with all possible efforts.
