By Shivani P Menon
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday visited several flood-affected areas of Jammu to take stock of the widespread damage caused by the recent natural calamity. He reviewed the ongoing rescue and relief measures, which had already been initiated when he arrived in Jammu late on Sunday.
According to officials, Shah was given a detailed briefing by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar in the presence of senior administrators, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma.
At Raj Bhavan, he interacted with local representatives and visitors before proceeding to Mangu Chak, one of the villages most severely hit by the deluge near Jammu Airport. The minister personally surveyed the devastation, spoke with residents, and assured them that the government would ensure proper medical care, rehabilitation, and relief for the victims.
During his visit, Shah paused on the Tawi bridge near Bikram Chowk to examine the extent of damage inflicted on the riverbanks. He then stopped at the residence of Bhan Singh, a local villager from Mangu Chak. Shah promised immediate support, while Singh narrated that the flood had washed away nearly everything he owned, leaving his home in ruins after last week’s flooding.
Singh, a middle-aged resident, explained that he had never seen a disaster of this magnitude in his life, as it destroyed necessities, from clothing and furniture to refrigerators and air conditioners. Another villager, Chain Dass, recounted how he narrowly escaped with his life when the floodwaters submerged the entire settlement.
Later, Shah convened a high-level meeting to review the relief operations. He expressed gratitude to all agencies working on the ground and highlighted the critical contribution of the Army and other security forces in carrying out swift rescues and evacuations that saved many lives. He further assured that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) would extend complete assistance in disaster management for the Union Territory.
Shah will also assess the damage inflicted upon the border security infrastructure by the flash floods, officials said. The minister confirmed that although ₹209 crore had already been allocated to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for urgent restoration work, specialised survey teams from the Ministry of Home Affairs would soon assess the damage in detail and determine additional aid requirements. He also noted that a joint meeting of concerned departments from the Centre and the J&K government would be convened within the next couple of days.
In the meantime, due to the continued unfavourable weather in the region, the Vaishno Devi yatra has been suspended for the sixth consecutive day.