SRINAGAR: In response to the heavy damage caused by incessant rainfall, flash floods, and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the Union Territory, along with similar assessments in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab.
Acting on the directions of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, the MHA announced on Saturday that the teams will visit the affected districts early next week to evaluate the extent of the damage and the relief measures carried out by the respective State and UT governments.
The initiative comes under the broader commitment of the Central Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to support states impacted by natural disasters. “The Centre stands shoulder to shoulder with the states and UTs affected by natural calamities, ensuring swift assistance to mitigate public hardship,” a Home Ministry statement said.
Each IMCT will be headed by a Joint Secretary-level officer from the MHA or National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and will include senior officials from key ministries such as Expenditure, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti, Power, Road Transport & Highways, and Rural Development.
The teams will assess damages caused by heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides experienced during the current monsoon season. Earlier, similar multi-sectoral teams had already visited parts of Himachal Pradesh.
The MHA is in active coordination with senior officers in Jammu and Kashmir and other affected states. Necessary logistical support has been extended, including the deployment of NDRF teams, Army personnel, and Air Force helicopters to aid in search-and-rescue operations and restore essential services.
As per the protocol established in August 2019 under the direction of the Home Minister, the IMCTs are deployed immediately after severe disasters, without waiting for a formal memorandum from the state. Based on their assessment, the Centre may extend additional financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
In the current financial year (2025–26), the Central Government has already disbursed Rs 10,498.80 crore to 24 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 1,988.91 crore from the NDRF to 12 states. Additionally, Rs 3,274.90 crore and Rs 372.09 crore have been released from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) and National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), respectively.
