Evaluation to quantify socio-economic impact
Report to be submitted to MHA for approval, funds
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 19: The Union Territory Government has initiated a comprehensive Post-Disaster -Needs Assessment (PDNA) aimed at scientifically determining the full extent of losses caused by the incessant heavy rainfall, flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides that struck the Jammu and Kashmir between August 14 and September 5, 2025, claiming 152 lives and damaging public and private infrastructure on a massive scale.
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Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on the request of the J&K Government, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has deputed technical experts to assist the Union Territory administration in conducting Post Disaster Needs Assessment in all the affected areas.
“The PDNA process, which has been set into motion, will be completed by November 25, 2025 in close coordination with the sectoral departments and the concerned district administrations”, they said while disclosing that different teams have been constituted for the task and both the Divisional Commissioners as well as Deputy Commissioners of all the districts have been explicitly told to provide all logistics and field-level facilitation for successful and time-bound completion of the exercise.
Around 20 teams comprising officers of different departments of J&K Government and National Disaster Management Authority experts have been constituted and whole exercise is being closely monitored and coordinated by Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.
The objectives of the PDNA are to assess the damages caused by the incessant heavy/intense rain fall inducted flash-floods and landslides and develop a comprehensive recovery strategy including financial costs and timelines.
“The teams will estimate the overall socio-economic impact of the disaster on the districts and affected communities, assess the effects and impacts to formulate a strategy for early, medium and long-term recovery and reconstruction needs in a consolidated report”, sources informed, adding “the teams will also integrate disaster risk reduction, “build back better” principles and address gender and environmental concerns in recovery strategies, recommend strategies for disaster risk management and institutional mechanisms and policy options to support recovery, reconstruction and long-term disaster resilience”.
The sectors that are being covered for the damage assessments and recovery planning are housing and settlements, education, health and nutrition, public buildings and civic amenities, livelihoods, drinking water and sanitation, roads and bridges, power and other infrastructure, agriculture and horticulture, animal husbandry and livestock, forestry and environment, tourism and cultural heritage and disaster risk reduction and climate change.
Following the collection of data, a final report will be prepared wherein sector-wise damage will be highlighted. Even the cost estimates of all the damages will be included in the report, sources said, adding NDMA will constitute a Sector Expert Group for field assessment, reviewing and finalizing the PDNA.
The Sectoral Expert Group will analyze data and assessment, work collectively to identify short-term, medium-term and long-term recovery needs based on the findings of data analysis. Moreover, the Group will formulate a comprehensive recovery framework that outlines strategic priorities and a roadmap for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the Union Territory Government. Further, the Group will oversee the development of detailed sectoral reports providing in-depth insights into the specific recovery requirements of different sectors.
“Once the UT-level PDNA is completed and all sectoral expert comments are incorporated, the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of J&K will submit the final PDNA report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, for approval by the competent authority”, sources said, adding “this report will form the basis for central assistance, long-term reconstruction planning and policy decisions”.
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