KL Report
SRINAGAR
In order to review the situation in Chenab Valley post earthquake, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday visited the place and said that the recent earthquake has damaged major residential houses, government buildings, schools and other infrastructure of Doda, Bhaderwah and Bhalesa areas of the state, accordingly the state and central government jointly have taken up the relief and rescue operation to facilitate people of these areas.
Saying that the epicentre of the earthquake was Bhaderwah, Azad has informed that the 20-25 tremors were recorded in these areas recently resulting in sleepless nights under the open sky for the people. He has said 5-10 thousand tents are immediately required to provide temporary accommodation to the people whose houses have either got damaged fully or partially and have become unsafe for the inhabitants.
As per a statement Azad has said that it is need of the hour to mobilize all resources to provide succour to the affected families. He has said that Vice Chairman, NDMA who accompanied him today to review the situation in Doda and Bhaderwah and Bhalesa shall constitute a technical team to formulate a comprehensive project for assessment as well as to conduct rescue operation for avoiding any damage in future. He has further said district administration has constituted teams for assessment of the damage and extending relief to the affected families. He has said All India Red Cross Society provided immediate relief to the sufferers for which he is also the chairperson adding that steps are afoot to provide other necessary facilities to the people of the hilly areas.
To take stock of the damage caused by the earthquake Azad was accompanied by Vice Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), M Shashidhar Reddy.
Reddy has said that experts of NDMA will visit the affected areas soon to access the damages and apprised that workshops will be conducted by NDMA in the region very soon to educate the people about the measures and precautions to be taken while facing such natural calamities which will certainly help to minimize the loss of life and property.
Later Azad went to Padder Kishtwar where he distributed relief material among the fire victim families of Padder provided by Indian Reserve Police (IRP) under its civic action programme.
About twenty four (24) Fire Victim families of Village Tun Kishtwar whose residential houses were gutted during the intervening night of February 11 and 12, 2013 were provided relief material.
