Omar meets flood, landslide-hit residents of Ramban, efforts on to restore highway

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was surrounded by angry residents demanding rehabilitation aid when he visited the flood and landslide-hit Ramban district on Tuesday morning to hold a review meeting with the deputy commissioner.

Local residents, including women, surrounded his car and raised slogans against officials, demanding the Jammu and Kashmir government fulfil its promise to rehabilitate them. Abdullah stepped out of the car and assured the protesters that their problems would be addressed on priority. The protesters did not allow his vehicle to proceed for a few minutes, while security personnel encircled him. Banihal National Conference MLA Sajjad Shaheen also tried to pacify the protesters.

This was the chief minister’s second visit to Ramban since Monday evening when he visited Magor, one of the worst-hit landslide sites where National Highway 44, connecting Jammu and Srinagar, is blocked since Sunday morning. Three people, including two minor siblings, were killed when two houses at Bagahana village collapsed due to flashfloods and landslides early on Sunday.

Later, Abdullah left to attend the meeting at Ramban, where officers briefed him about the quantum of damage and updated him on the restoration efforts.

After visiting the area on Monday night, he said the rehabilitation of affected people is his government’s priority besides reopening the highway, which the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said is expected to take five days.

Assessment of losses is underway, and the flashflood-affected families would be given assistance from the PM’s Relief Fund and resources available with the Jammu and Kashmir government. “People will be provided adequate relief and compensation,” he said on Monday night.

Meanwhile, men and machinery are engaged in clearing debris between the Banihal and Ramban stretch. Officials are hopeful that single-lane traffic would be through on the stretch in a day or two. The alternative Mughal Road, which connects Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri in Jammu region, is open for two-way traffic.

On the second visit to rain-battered Ramban district within 24 hours, Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday, exuded confidence of getting adequate assistance from the Centre.

He also said he will approach the Centre to declare Ramban, a “disaster zone”.

Talking to reporters in Ramban, Omar said, “Today is the third day since a natural calamity struck Ramban. Deputy chief minister and senior officials visited the people on Sunday itself. My two MLAs were here, and I personally visited here yesterday. Today again, I have come to assess other areas from Chanderkote side. The restoration works are being expedited.”

The CM said that the first priority of his government was to save human lives.

“We evacuated them from vehicles and houses shifting them to safety. Now, second priority is to restore the affected stretches of the highway. Bulldozers and dumpers have been pressed into service”, he said.

“The officials have informed me that they would do single track restoration in the next 24 hours. Once the highway is restored, the remaining debris will be removed”, he added.

“For now, we are rehabilitating affected people till we restore their houses,” he said.

Omar said that he has already issued directions to the Ramban DC to provide emergency relief to the people from Red Cross funds.

“Once done with recovery and rehabilitation, their losses will be assessed and compensated through NDRF,” he said.

“We will also approach the Centre to declare Ramban as ‘disaster zone’. I am fully confident that the Centre will provide us with the required assistance,” he said.

The CM hoped that Modi led government will provide adequate Central assistance will be provided to the people affected by flash floods and landslides in the hilly district.

Omar also said there was no shortage of supplies in the Kashmir valley despite the closure of 250-km strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway since Sunday.