Jammu Floods: Over 5,000 Evacuated, Aid to Be Disbursed Soon Says Amit Shah

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for damaged houses in flood-affected Jammu will be assessed and disbursed in the shortest possible time. He confirmed that private property had suffered significant damage and assured speedy compensation.

Shah, who visited rain, flood, and landslide-hit areas in the Jammu division, chaired a high-level review meeting after surveying the damage. He also met affected residents in Mangu Chak village and inspected flood-hit areas including the Tawi Bridge at Bikram Chowk and a damaged Shiv temple.

During the meeting, attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and senior officials, Shah stressed that coordinated efforts had helped minimise loss of life. He noted that more than 5,000 people were evacuated as a precaution, and 17 NDRF teams, 23 Army columns, Air Force helicopters, and multiple agencies remain actively involved in relief operations.

The Home Minister said that while over 80 per cent of electricity supply has been restored, relief and repair work on damaged roads and other infrastructure is progressing on a war footing. Drinking water supplies and health services have also resumed in many areas, he added.

Calling for a critical review of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Early Warning System, Shah emphasised the need to improve accuracy and grassroots-level reach of early warning apps. He instructed the Meteorological Department and NDMA to jointly study patterns in cloudbursts and moisture content to enhance forecasting. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would incorporate data analytics and artificial intelligence to build stronger predictive tools, he said.

Shah confirmed that an advance survey team from the MHA will assess total damages, and another inter-departmental meeting will be held within days. The FCI has been directed to ensure additional ration supplies, and offline delivery will be considered after assessing connectivity in 10 days.

Acknowledging the UT’s vulnerability to natural disasters, Shah noted that ₹209 crore had already been allocated to Jammu & Kashmir under the SDRF, enabling the start of relief operations. He commended the rapid response by local agencies, the Army, and central forces.

“The Government of India stands firmly with the people of Jammu & Kashmir during this crisis,” Shah stated. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we are committed to providing immediate relief, financial support, and technical assistance to ensure recovery and rehabilitation.”