Srinagar : Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday convened a meeting with the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to evaluate the damage from recent floods in the Union Territory. The floods have severely impacted multiple districts, damaging homes, infrastructure, and agricultural produce, particularly in the mountainous areas where human casualties were reported. Although the Kashmir Valley did not experience fatalities, the agriculture and horticulture sectors faced significant losses, with extensive damage to paddy fields and apple orchards.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasized the urgent need for central assistance to restore essential infrastructure, including power supply, water systems, schools, roads, and bridges. He advocated for a comprehensive safety audit of critical public infrastructure to ensure resilience for ongoing public use. Additionally, he requested special relief measures for farmers affected by the floods, proposing that the Central Government cover their insurance premiums under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to help them recover from crop losses. Connectivity issues were also a focal point, with the Chief Secretary urging immediate action from central road agencies to restore damaged roads and support new connectivity projects in flood-affected districts. He reviewed restoration efforts in the Jammu division, gathering updates from the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners regarding essential services and rehabilitation measures for local residents. The IMCT has already assessed several severely affected areas in the Jammu region, which has experienced the most significant impact from the floods and landslides. Over the past month, adverse weather conditions have resulted in approximately 150 fatalities and frequent blockages of key roads, including the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, disrupting traffic movement.
