Srinagar, Sep 22: In the wake of the devastation caused by the recent floods, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed all concerned departments to intensify their efforts in completing damage assessments and speeding up restoration works across the Union Territory. Chairing a high-level review meeting on post-flood rehabilitation, Abdullah emphasized that swift action is crucial not only to restore public infrastructure but also to provide relief to families whose homes, fields, and livelihoods have been severely impacted.
The torrential rains that lashed several districts last week triggered flash floods in major rivers and tributaries, causing landslides, breaching embankments, and disrupting traffic movement on key roads. The Chief Minister had earlier highlighted on September 18 that the scale of damage was unprecedented, with nearly 330 bridges and more than 1,500 kilometers of road infrastructure either completely washed away or severely damaged. Thousands of private properties, including residential houses and vast stretches of agricultural land, have also suffered irreparable losses.
During the follow-up meeting today, Abdullah instructed senior officers from the Roads & Buildings, Irrigation & Flood Control, and Power Development Departments to accelerate their work plans and ensure that restoration is carried out in mission mode. He noted that although connectivity has been restored in most areas, certain critical road links remain cut off, causing distress to residents and obstructing the movement of essential supplies. He directed that these remaining routes be reopened at the earliest possible timeframe, with priority given to regions where relief operations are ongoing.
The Chief Minister also underscored the importance of timely and transparent damage assessment. He asked officials to ensure that surveys of affected households, farmlands, and community assets are completed quickly so that compensation and relief distribution is not delayed. “People have already suffered immense losses; they cannot afford to wait indefinitely for support,” Abdullah is learned to have told the meeting.
Officials were further asked to coordinate closely with district administrations to make the relief delivery process more efficient. Special focus, Abdullah said, should be given to rural areas and far-flung communities that are often the last to receive assistance. He reiterated that every department must align its efforts with the broader goal of ensuring that normalcy returns at the earliest.
The meeting concluded with directions to explore long-term measures to strengthen flood-control infrastructure, upgrade drainage systems, and improve early-warning mechanisms. Abdullah stressed that while the immediate priority is rehabilitation, the government must also learn lessons from the current disaster to build resilience against future calamities.