5-marla plot for families left homeless due to floods: J&K CM

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced that the government will provide five marlas of land to all flood-affected families who have been rendered homeless and landless due to recent flashfloods and landslides.

The announcement was made during his visit to Duggain, Billawar, where several families lost their homes and livelihoods in the calamity. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Bani MLA Dr Rameshwar Singh, and had earlier conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas.

An official spokesperson said that Omar Abdullah assured all possible support from the government and directed the administration to ensure timely relief and rehabilitation.

“The year 2025 has brought immense devastation to Jammu and Kashmir—from the dry spell in March-April to incessant rains, flashfloods and landslides in August-September,” he said. “From Kathua to Kupwara, the damage has been unprecedented.”

The Chief Minister highlighted the scale of destruction, noting that torrential rains have damaged over 350 bridges, around 2,000 km of road network, thousands of hectares of agricultural land, besides washing away standing crops and inflicting damages on both government and private buildings. “Given the enormity of restoration challenges, Jammu and Kashmir is looking forward to a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package from the Centre,” he added.

Emphasising the importance of first-hand assessment, Omar said his visit to the remote and isolated areas of Kathua was aimed at understanding the ground realities. He also undertook an aerial survey of damages in Hiranagar and Lakhanpur, the entry point of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister convened a meeting with district administration, including Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma, the ADC, and senior civil and police officers. He directed the DC to conduct extensive tours of all affected areas and submit detailed ground reports at the earliest. Bani MLA highlighted extensive damages due to landslides triggered by torrential rains in his constituency.