Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir chairs meeting of Group of Ministers, expresses shock over loss of lives in Ladakh Cloudburst
Sanctions Rs.5 crore for Relief & Restoration in Leh, Ladakh
Srinagar (Kashmir), August 06: In the wake of severe cloudburst that hit parts of Ladakh region inflicting heavy loss of life and property, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today convened a meeting of Group of Ministers to monitor and review the developing situation in the region.
Expressing deep sorrow and grief over the loss of human lives and property in the unfortunate incident, the meeting directed the administration to intensify relief and rescue operations in the region and shift the affected people to safer locations and Government buildings on war footing. The Jammu & Kashmir District administration, Leh, Ladakh has been directed to provide immediate relief including essential commodities and medicines to the affected people and undertake a preliminary assessment of the losses urgently.
The meeting approved release of Rs.3 crore for temporary restoration of public property and services in the Leh district. Briefing the meeting, the Chief Secretary, Mr. S.S. Kapur said he is in touch with the National Disaster Management Authority at New Delhi which has kept its men and material ready to be airlifted as soon as the Leh airport becomes operational. It may be mentioned here that the Leh, Ladakh Airport has become non-operational because of this severe cloudburst.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister asked his ministerial colleagues to undertake visits to the affected areas across the State and assess the extent of damages due to floods & cloud burst incidents with the assistance of respective Deputy Commissioners. He directed the Ministers to oversee the relief operations in these areas and take appropriate administrative measures.
Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah today later in the day had an extensive tour of Leh to take first hand appraisal of the situation that has arisen due to the cloudburst and heavy rains claiming precious human lives and damaging public and private property to a greater extent.
Omar Abdullah also reviewed the measures for rescue and relief operations unitedly being carried out by the army, police and district administration. He directed the Leh administration to be at the beck and call of the people in this need of hour. He said that focus should be on rescuing those who are expected live under the debris.
Expressing deep grief and sorrow over the loss of human lives, he said that critically injured persons will be airlifted from Leh to other hospitals for appropriate treatment. He asked the health department to urgently establish emergency unit in Leh hospital, which has also been damaged greatly in the cloudburst. Necessary equipment and medicine will be airlifted to Leh to operationalize the emergency unit, he said and assured all possible help to the affected from the Government. The Chief Minister directed for ensuing essential supplies and health care facilities to the people and asked the administration to gear up all units at all levels to met the present emergent situation.
The Chief Minister also visited Chougham Sar, Old Town, Sonam Narboo Hospital and other affected areas. He also interacted with people at these places. |
