Shailendra Kumar visits SKUAST-J, takes stock of recent flood damage in varsity

Jammu: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Shailendra Kumar, Thursday visited Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) Jammu at Chatha to take stock of the situation and damage due to flash floods that struck the University on August 26, 2025.
During the visit, the ACS reviewed the damages to academics, research and other infrastructure at Chatha campus and interacted with the University authorities, faculty members and students.
The ACS issued directions for University’s preparedness against future calamities. He advised the University authorities to contact the Irrigation and Flood Control Department for long term solution to the recurrent flash floods in Ballol Nallah and its tributaries.
Shailendra Kumar emphasized on a detailed study of the water pattern with focus on capacity and thrust areas from where overflow is most likely to occur. He further directed them to seek assistance from IIT Jammu for hiring a consultant of national repute in handling prestigious flood management projects.
He stressed that hiring of the consultant must be done on priority from University funds for further planning and mitigation of flash floods.
ACS along with Vice Chancellor, Prof. B.N. Tripathi and statutory officers of the University also interacted with the hostel boarders. He advised the students to remain calm and resilient in this difficult time and emphasized the need for maintaining hygienic conditions in hostel premises and across the campus along with provision of quality food for boarders.
Assuring the students of uninterrupted academics, he directed that the syllabus of the current semester shall be completed within the stipulated time frame by conducting online classes ensuring that students do not suffer any academic loss.
The ACS reiterated the Government’s commitment to extend all possible support for early restoration and long-term resilience of SKUAST-Jammu.