Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today revealed that the government will allocate five marlas of land each to families in Jammu and Kashmir affected by recent floods. This initiative aims to support those rendered homeless and landless due to landslides and flash floods, allowing them to rebuild their lives.
During his visit to Duggain, Billawar, Abdullah interacted with residents whose livelihoods suffered due to the devastating floods. His remarks followed an aerial survey he conducted with MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, over the impacted areas.
Assuring timely assistance to the affected populace, Abdullah instructed the administration to expedite relief and rehabilitation efforts. He emphasized that the year 2025 has inflicted severe damage across Jammu and Kashmir, with disasters ranging from March’s dry spell to the torrential rains and subsequent floods experienced in August and September.
“From Kathua to Kupwara, the devastation is unmatched,” Abdullah stated while discussing the challenges ahead. He reported that torrential rain damaged more than 350 bridges, disrupted around 2,000 kilometers of roadways, destroyed vast agricultural land, and caused significant losses to both public and private buildings.
With restoration efforts being a monumental task, Abdullah urged for a comprehensive relief package from the Central Government to address the extensive damage. His emphasis on a ground-level assessment stemmed from his direct observations of the destruction during his trip to remote areas of Kathua.
In addition to the aerial survey of Hiranagar and Lakhanpur, the Chief Minister called a meeting with local district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma. He instructed the DC to conduct thorough surveys of the affected regions and compile detailed reports promptly.
MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, voiced urgent concerns during the gathering, pointing out that the Bani region also sustained critical damage from landslides resulting from heavy rains. He noted that approximately 100 families in villages including Moar, Najote, and Kanthal-Majra had completely lost their land and property.
Dr. Singh advocated for the allocation of five marlas of land for these families, also raising pressing issues such as damages to local infrastructure like the Jalana Bridge and the protracted tendering process for educational repairs. He suggested amnesty on KCC loans and electricity bills for affected families as essential steps toward recovery.
In response, Abdullah assured residents that the government would seriously evaluate these requests and extend all possible support to rebuild their communities.
