Kishtwar disaster: HM, LG in constant touch, assured full support: Sunil Sharma

Jammu, Aug 23: Senior BJP leader and the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma Saturday stated that he was in constant communication with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who assured full support for the rehabilitation of affected families in tragedy-hit Chisoti in Padder.

Sharma, who is an MLA from Padder and has been camping at Chisoti since August 14, said that besides financial assistance, the Lieutenant Governor assured that all destroyed houses would be rebuilt through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support.

“Even those who have lost their land will be given 5 marlas, ensuring that no family remains without a roof. Once the rescue operation concludes, the rehabilitation process will begin and will be completed within fifteen days,” he assured.

With regard to ongoing rescue and relief operations in the Chisoti, he said that they were being carried out on a war footing and every possible effort was being made to save lives and provide immediate support to the affected families.

Sunil Sharma said that even after nine long days of the devastating cloudburst, the pain and suffering of the people continued to shake every heart, but the relentless work on the ground was giving hope.

“The 17 Rashtriya Rifles, NDRF, J&K Police, VDGs, youth clubs, and NGOs like Sewa Bharti are working round the clock. Their commitment is unmatched, and the seriousness of the administration can be seen in every step being taken,” Sharma stated.

The senior BJP leader informed that many bodies were already retrieved from the debris.

“Searches for the missing continue despite the fear that some may have been washed away forever. Not a single stone is being left unturned in the rescue operation. Teams are risking their lives in harsh conditions, and the entire machinery is focussed on saving every life and recovering every soul,” he remarked.

The Leader of Opposition also stated that a cleanliness initiative was undertaken in the Chisoti area to prevent disease outbreaks.

“Along with relief, our focus remains on safety and health. I have been with the affected families since the beginning, sharing their grief and standing with them in this hour of tragedy. My commitment is to ensure that every broken home is restored and every grieving family is supported with dignity,” he asserted.

“We cannot fight against nature’s fury, but we can stand united, heal together and rebuild with determination,” Sharma added.