KL Report
SRINAGAR
Minister of State for Industries & Commerce and Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Sunday welcomed the Centre’s decision of sanctioning 10,000 tents for earthquake-affected areas of erstwhile Doda district. This will be in addition to the 1,000 tents and 2,000 blankets already sent by Red Cross Society of India from New Delhi.
The Minister said this while visiting various quake-affected areas of Kishtwar district today. These include Sangrambhatta, Bilwar, Chirhal, Bunjwar and Dugga, besides various colonies in Kishtwar town. On the instructions of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, the Minister is stationed at Kishtwar for the last three days to oversee rescue and relief operations.
As already reported, there has been extensive damage to thousands of residential houses and Government infrastructure in Kishtwar district due to earthquake that struck erstwhile Doda district on May 1.
According to preliminary damage report submitted by District Administration to the Divisional Commissioner, nearly 3,500 tents and 15,000 blankets are immediately required for providing succor to the affected families. Nearly Rs. 5 core is urgently required under NCRF/SDRF rules for compensating loss suffered to private property. Another Rs. 1.50 crore is required for restoring damage suffered by Government infrastructure due to the tremor. The reports from inaccessible areas of Marwah, Dacchan, Padder and Chatroo are still awaited and it will take some more time to consolidate the figures.
Over 11,000 houses have been partially and 5,736 houses have been severely damaged due to the strong tremor that rocked Doda-Himachal belt on May 1, according to the damage report submitted to Divisional Headquarters.
