Centre’s support crucial: Omar on Ramban relief ops

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said support from the Centre was crucial for rehabilitation of people and restoration efforts in floods-affected areas Ramban.

In a statement, Omar said, “support from the Centre is crucial, and I am confident that we will receive all the help required.”

On his second visit to Ramban, Omar said the primary focus of his government was saving lives and ensuring safety of the residents.

“We have successfully evacuated people to secure locations and are now prioritising the reopening of roads. Officers have assured that a single lane of the highway will become operational within 24 hours. Relief material is being distributed, and compensation will be provided in accordance with the SDRF and NDRF norms post-restoration,” he said.

During his visit, Omar’s cavalcade was stopped by angry locals who demanded early rehabilitation. They accused the district administration of ignoring their plight. Omar had visited the area even on Monday despite a heavy rainfall.

A heavy rain triggered flashfloods and landslides in the area, damaging the Jammu-Srinagar national nighway as well as houses in over 12 villages. Hundreds of people were rescued from the highway after the vehicles they were travelling in were stuck due to landslides.

The locals blamed the administration of remaining busy in restoring the highway while forgetting about their plight. Some angry residents raised slogans against Ramban Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary.

A woman, who protested in front of Omar’ss vehicle, said her house was washed away but the administration did not extend any help.

Another woman said the administration had not provided relief to them. Omar patiently listened to the protesters and assured that he would look into the matter.

At another location, the CM was again confronted by another group, including some political workers, who demanded early rehabilitation of the affected people. While visiting areas damaged by flashfloods in Ramban, Omar also took stock of the Maroog-Kela Morh stretch along the highway, which remained closed for the third consecutive day.

Omar reached Chanderkote in a chopper on Tuesday morning before proceeding to the landslide-stricken Seri to review the restoration work. “Throughout my time in the affected areas, I met numerous families who had been affected by the natural disaster. Subsequently, I made my way to the Ramban market to conduct a thorough assessment of the destruction,” Omar said in the statement.

Later in the afternoon, the CM held a crucial officers’ meeting at Ramban to assess the ongoing relief and rescue mission.