LG, CM brief Home Minister; express grief

Jammu, Aug 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation following a massive cloudburst in a remote village in Kishtwar district in Chenab Valley on Thursday.

Speaking to LG Sinha and CM Omar, Home Minister Shah took stock of the situation following the massive cloudburst in Kishtwar and assured the LG and CM of all possible help needed by the people.

He said that the local administration was conducting relief and rescue operations, and teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had rushed to the site.

“Spoke with the LG and Chief Minister of J&K on the cloudburst in Kishtwar district. The local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations. NDRF teams have promptly been rushed to the site,” the Home Minister posted on microblogging site ‘X’. He said that the Centre was closely monitoring the situation and stands firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through every situation.

“Assured of all possible assistance to the people in need,” Shah said. Speaking to the Home Minister, LG Sinha briefed him about the ongoing rescue and relief operations.

The LG said that he was constantly monitoring the situation and has directed the officials of civil administration, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF to strengthen the rescue and relief operations and ensure all possible assistance was provided to the affected persons.

He said that rescue and relief operations were in full swing.

“Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed, and the Air Force has been alerted for evacuation,” LG Sinha said.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the incident.

“I want to assure all the affected families that the government stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis,” the LG said.

“Anguished by the cloudburst in Kishtwar. Condolences to bereaved families and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured. Directed Civil, Police, Army, NDRF, and SDRF officials to strengthen the rescue and relief operations and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected,” he posted on X. “Rescue and relief operations at Chashoti are in full swing. Men and machinery have been put at the site. Other teams have also been rushed. Briefed Hon’ble Union Home Minister Sh Amit Shah Ji on rescue and relief Ops by various agencies. He has assured all possible assistance. I want to assure all the affected families that the Government stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this hour of crisis. The Air Force has also been alerted for evacuation. I am constantly monitoring the situation.”

CM Omar also briefed the Home Minister about the situation in Kishtwar. He said that the news was “grim and accurate, and verified information is slow in arriving”.

“I just spoke to the Union Home Minister @AmitShah Sb to brief him about the developing situation in the Kishtwar region of Jammu. The news is grim and accurate; verified information from the area hit by the cloudburst is slow in arriving. All possible resources are being mobilised from within and beyond J&K to manage the rescue operations,” CM Omar posted on ‘X’.