CM Omar Abdullah’s Bani visit cancelled due to bad weather in Kathua

• Rain forces cancellation of Omar Abdullah’s Bani-Lohimalar programme

Jammu, April 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s scheduled visit to Bani-Lohimalar in Kathua district was cancelled on Wednesday due to bad weather and continuous rain, leaving local residents and party workers disappointed.

The Chief Minister was scheduled to inaugurate several development projects, lay foundation stones for new works and address a public gathering in the Bani area. Education and Health Minister Sakina Itoo was also expected to accompany him during the visit.

Bani MLA Dr. Rameshwar Singh told reporters that the cancellation of the programme was unavoidable because of inclement weather conditions. He said a large number of people had gathered at the venue despite heavy rainfall, hoping to welcome the chief minister and raise local issues before him.

“Due to bad weather and rain, the chief minister’s programme had to be cancelled, which has left us quite disappointed. The people are also very disheartened,” Dr. Singh said.

He said the people of Bani-Lohimalar had high expectations from the visit, as it was expected to focus on local development needs and public grievances. According to him, residents had turned up in large numbers with enthusiasm, despite the difficult weather conditions, reflecting their interest in the chief minister’s outreach programme.

Dr. Singh said the chief minister was keen to visit the area and waited until around 1:30 pm for the weather to improve. However, as no weather clearance was received, the programme had to be cancelled in the interest of safety.

“This is nature, and there is little we can do about it,” the MLA said, adding that the cancellation should not be seen as a setback to the proposed development outreach.

He said the chief minister’s visit to Bani-Lohimalar would be rescheduled soon. The MLA added that he would again invite Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister Sakina Itoo to the area so that the planned public interaction, project inaugurations and foundation-stone laying ceremonies could be held at the earliest.

Dr. Singh said the people of Bani remain hopeful that the chief minister will visit the area shortly and personally review the developmental aspirations of the region. He added that the administration and local representatives would continue to coordinate for the fresh schedule.

The cancelled visit had generated considerable public interest in the area, particularly because several developmental works were expected to be formally launched or inaugurated. Residents were also looking forward to direct interaction with the chief minister on issues related to road connectivity, education, healthcare and other basic facilities.

Although weather conditions prevented the visit, local representatives said the programme would be reorganized soon, ensuring that the people of Bani-Lohimalar get an opportunity to welcome the chief minister and place their concerns before the government.