Jammu Kashmir CM Orders ‘War-Footing’ Restoration After Floods; Seeks Package From Centre

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday chaired a high-level meeting in Srinagar to take stock of flood relief and restoration measures across Jammu and Kashmir, directing all departments to expedite assessments so that a consolidated package could be urgently submitted to the Government of India.

The Chief Minister stressed that only permanent solutions would be acceptable, asking the Jal Shakti Department to avoid temporary fixes and focus exclusively on durable restoration of water supply schemes. He said the government’s priority was to restore infrastructure and livelihoods on a war footing once support from the Centre was secured.

Omar Abdullah also reviewed the safety audit of schools, directing the certification process to be fast-tracked. Responding to rumours on social media about alleged delays in fruit truck movement along the Srinagar–Jammu Highway, he instructed Divisional Commissioners and the Inspector General of Police (NH) to issue verified information promptly. Officials clarified that the slow movement was caused by poor road conditions and not by deliberate restrictions.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over fresh damage to the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in Jammu, where land subsidence along the Circular Road has weakened its rear structure. He called for urgent protective measures to safeguard the historic monument.

Presenting detailed reports, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said the valley recorded the loss of one life in the floods, with 16 houses fully damaged, 57 severely damaged and 791 partially damaged. Over 90 km of roads, 87 bridges, 563 water supply schemes and multiple power installations were affected. Agricultural and horticultural losses covered more than 12,500 hectares, mainly in Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu reported far greater devastation in the Jammu division, where 150 lives were lost, 178 people injured and 33 reported missing. Over 4,200 homes were fully damaged, more than 8,600 partially damaged, and livestock losses stood at 1,455. Crops over 1,300 hectares were also destroyed. The estimated cost of permanent restoration of roads and bridges alone is nearly Rs 893 crore, while more than Rs 195 crore is required for water supply works.

Financial assistance of over Rs 40 crore has already been disbursed from the State Disaster Response Fund, with another Rs 3.35 crore released from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Officials reported significant progress in temporary restoration across sectors, including power and education, but underlined the need for a comprehensive package from the Centre to rebuild infrastructure permanently.

The Chief Minister directed all Deputy Commissioners to reconcile district-level figures with departmental projections to ensure accuracy in the final proposal. He also sought reports on ex-gratia relief for families from Jammu and Kashmir who lost members in a recent landslide in Himachal Pradesh.

Reiterating his government’s commitment, Omar Abdullah told his Council of Ministers that durable restoration and livelihood support must not wait. “We need to ensure robust preparedness, strengthen embankments and put in place effective response mechanisms to safeguard lives and property,” he said.