Assess damage, safety of structures for reuse: DC

Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has directed the officials to prioritise accurate damage assessment and ensure the safety of all structures before their reuse. To streamline the process, the DC has ordered the formation of joint teams in every sub-division under the chairmanship of respective SDMs.

All joint teams have been asked to begin work immediately and submit preliminary reports within seven days, followed by detailed reports covering both structural certification and damage assessment. These teams will comprise officials from the Public Works Department, Water Resources Department, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, PSPCL, Panchayat Department, Education Department, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, and Executive Officers of municipal bodies.

Reviewing the situation on the ground, she emphasised that all schools, anganwadi centres, hospitals, public buildings and private homes will undergo mandatory technical inspections. They will only be declared fit for use after being structurally certified. Public and private losses will be assessed as per the notified SDRF norms to ensure timely and appropriate compensation.

The DC directed SDMs to hold daily review meetings, ensure on-the-spot solutions and maintain inter-departmental coordination. The District Education Officer has also been instructed to conduct structural safety inspections of school buildings.

Jain conducted a late-night visit to the flood-affected villages of Harta and Badla in Chabbewal area to assess the damage caused by heavy rainfall and flooding.

During her inspection, she expressed serious over erosion along the Beas river and noted that excessive siltation and island formation have disrupted the river’s natural flow, causing strong currents to strike embankments directly. This has severely impacted the embankments near Rarra Bridge (Sri Hargobindpur), posing threats to the bridge, villages, and land.

The administration has submitted a proposal to the Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, for scientific desilting of the Beas river and construction of approximately 13 kilometers of embankments on priority. The work will be executed under the supervision of the Forest and Wildlife Department to ensure natural flow and biodiversity conservation.