- ‘Assesses flood, rain damages in Chenab Valley region’
JAMMU: Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI & Trainings Ch. Lal Singh accompanied by Minister of State for PWD and Revenue Mr. Sunil Kumar Sharma and MLA Doda Mr. Shakti Raj Parihar and MLA Ramban Mr. Neelam Langeh today visited flood hit areas of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts and reviewed the damages caused to life and property due to recent incessant rains and landslides in the area.
During the tour to flood hit areas of the Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda, Ch Lal Singh directed the Public Works Department to gear up their men and machinery in restoring the flood damages including road connectivity especially on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway, Doda-Bhaderwah and Thathri-Gandoh roads so that all the essential supplies and medicines could be transported to these disconnected areas at the earliest.
The Minister directed SE PWD (R&B) Division Doda to mobilize their men and machinery and closely monitor the road restoration works. He further directed Deputy Commissioner Doda to personally monitor the relief and rescue operation at Dewal Kund village where 7 people of a family are buried under the debris of a landslide. Besides, the Minister impressed upon Deputy Commissioner Doda to distribute tents, shift people to the safer places from vulnerable/slide prone areas and provide ration and other essential commodities wherever necessary.
Ch Lal Singh while reviewing the functioning of health system in Doda in view of the recent heavy rainfall in the area enjoined upon the CMO Doda Dr. Yaqoob Mir to streamline the health system of the hospitals in the district and personally monitor all the facilities available to the patients and the attendance of doctors and other staff in the health institutions.
Responding to the demand for a Radiologist in district hospital Doda, the Minister assured that the post will be soon filled besides he expressed optimism on mitigation of the problems of staff shortage in other hospitals of the district. He also asked the medical fraternity to focus more on serving in the public hospitals and refrain from the private practices. Ch Lal Singh said the officers should work with honesty and dedication to effectively deliver the services to the common masses.
Deputy Commissioner Doda Mr. Bhupinder Kumar while revealing the details of the persons trapped and killed in a tragic landslide in Dewal Kund village of Bhagwah Tehsil said that 7 persons of a family were trapped in the debris when their house collapsed due to landslide in the village Dewal Kund of Dessa area of District Doda out of which 4 dead bodies have been so far retrieved when the reports last came in. He said that the Civil Administration, Police and Army with the help of local people have launched the relief and rescue operation in the Dewal Kund village to retrieve the trapped people.
DC Doda also informed the Ministers and MLAs that a tentative figure of the number of houses damaged in the District is 1291 out of which 198 got fully damaged, 319 received severe damages while as 774 houses were partially damaged besides 51 animals were reported to be died, 310 cow sheds received damages and 7 religious structures were also damaged due to rains, floods and landslides when the reports last came in. Besides, DDC informed that approximately 650 people of 128 families have been shifted to safer places from the vulnerable/slide prone areas and the temporary accommodations have been provided to them.
All the major and minor roads of the district are blocked, there is shortage of essential commodities in few areas, LPG cylinder are not available in the District and Medical supplies are sufficient till date but shortage may arise in some areas, this was revealed by Deputy Commissioner Doda while briefing the meeting. Earlier, at Kishtwar, the Ministers along with MLA Doda and Ramban visited Kishtwar and convened a meeting of officers and reviewed the damages to the life and property.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Mr. Mohd. Javaid Khan briefed about the extent of the damages and said that almost all the roads of the district are blocked due to slippery condition and landslides at different locations. He said that there is sufficient stock of essential commodities in the District but there is shortage of K-Oil and LPG besides he informed that the power supply in the Kishtwar town has been restored while as most of the rural areas are still without electricity, which got disrupted due to damages to power distribution network.
Ch. Lal Singh and MoS R&B Mr. Sunil Kumar Sharma directed Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to ensure speedy restoration of main roads including Kishtwar-Chatroo-Chingam, Kishtwar- Padder, Kishtwar- Thakrie and Kishtwar- Ikhala roads. Besides directions were conveyed to ensure the supply of essential commodities, power supply in rural areas besides DC Kishtwar was directed to shift the people from slide prone and other vulnerable areas to the safer places to avoid any mishap.