- Reviews relief, rescue measures; Asks officers to remain stationed at headquarters
POONCH: Minister for CA&PD and Tribal Affairs, Ch. Zulfkar Ali has asked the officers to remain stationed at their headquarters in view of the bad weather conditions prevailing in Poonch district. He commended the district administration for its proactive approach in saving human lives by timely evacuation of the people from vulnerable areas during incessant rains and flash-floods. The Minister was addressing an officer’s meeting at Dak Bunglow Poonch during his day long tour to the flood hit district. The Minister reviewed the flood situation and the measures put in place by district administration to handle any eventuality. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr. M H Malik apprised the minister in detail about the havoc caused by the landslides and flash-floods in the district.
The meeting was informed that besides 11 kacha houses and 01 pacca house that are severely damaged, 36 kacha houses, 04 pacca house and 04 animal husbandry buildings/sheds have been fully damaged due to incessant rains while 11 kacha houses are severely damaged and 171 are partially damaged. 41 cattle shed and 18 kanal land have been damaged whereas 09 cattle and 10 polutry birds died. 89 EM&RE and 13 PHE schemes have also suffered damages. 55 flood control and 72 irrigation works have been affected while 41 PMGSY roads have suffered damages.
Appreciating the extra vigilant and proactive approach of the district administration in efficiently handling the disaster, Zulfkar asked the officers to be on high alert besides asking them to set up control rooms at the district and sub-division level to monitor the situation. MLA, Haveli, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Director CA&PD, G S Chib Senior Superintendent of Police, J S Johar, ADDC, Arvind Sharma, ADC, Mumtaz Ali Chowdhary, ACR Shafiq Ahmed Choudhary, ACD Shokat Mahmmood Malik besides several district officers attended the meeting. Earlier, on his way to the district headquarters, the Minister also visited some flood hit spots like Potha, Sanai, Dhundak and Chandak. Zulfkar also visited the damaged Sher-e-Kashmir bridge site where he was apprised by the Deputy Commissioner about the status of restoration work.