SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that road connectivity in calamity-hit areas of Kishtwar and Kathua—badly disrupted due to recent cloudbursts and flash floods—may take about a week to restore, even as efforts are underway to resume electricity, water supply, mobile services and other essential utilities.
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Srinagar, the Chief Minister directed immediate rehabilitation measures and restoration of basic services, while calling for long-term disaster mitigation strategies guided by expert assessments for vulnerable areas across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Whether it was a cloudburst or a glacial lake outburst, the tragedy struck at the busiest time in Chashoti village. Had it happened at any other time, the impact might have been less severe,” Omar said, emphasising the importance of clear SOPs and adherence to weather advisories in disaster-prone regions.
The Chief Minister said while short-term focus must remain on rescue and relief, medium- and long-term planning must include expert-led risk assessments, discouraging habitation near flood-prone nallahs, protecting agricultural land, and establishing preventive mechanisms.
With 33 people still missing, the Chief Minister acknowledged the low chances of survival and stressed on prioritising retrieval of bodies and rehabilitation of affected families. “Our priority now is to retrieve the dead bodies and to provide support to those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar informed the meeting that 65 people had died, of which 62 bodies have been identified, and 66 persons rescued alive. Temporary shelters, food, and medical aid are being provided, with the Army, Police, NDRF, SDRF and civil administration jointly conducting rescue operations using heavy machinery.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua reported seven deaths and 13 injuries, with around five areas severely affected. He said road connectivity in the region had been severely impacted and may take about a week to fully restore, while efforts continue to resume electricity, water supply, and mobile services. Both public and private infrastructure have suffered substantial damage, he added.
The Chief Minister also directed the deployment of temporary power solutions, such as generators, in affected areas until normal power supply is restored.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretaries Shaleen Kabra and Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary PDD, Commissioner Secretary Food and Civil Supplies, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, and the Deputy Commissioners of Kishtwar and Kathua, among others.
Omar Abdullah instructed all departments to intensify relief work on a war footing, while initiating planning for a comprehensive disaster mitigation framework tailored to the region’s geography and climate risks.
