Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 11: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vice Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) M Shashidhar Reddy today called on Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh to apprise him about the extensive damage that has been caused to the thousands of residential houses and Government infrastructure due to the earthquake that struck Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region on May 1.
Mr Azad accompanied by Mr Reddy had visited the quake hit areas on May 4 to review the relief measures being undertaken by the administration and make a firsthand assessment about the extent and magnitude of damage caused to the properties.
Considering the magnitude of loss and destruction, Mr Azad and Mr Reddy met Dr Singh to brief him about the situation so that steps commensurate with the actual needs of the affected people could be taken up immediately.
Mr Azad particularly drew attention of the Prime Minister towards the plight of people who are constrained to spend nights in the open due to fear of collapse of damaged houses.
Pertinently aftershocks are being continuously felt after the earthquake, which on the one hand, has further aggravated the damage to the houses and on the other, has instilled fear and fright in the minds of people, Mr Azad pointed out.
To mitigate the hardships of people and to protect them from the vagaries of weather, Mr Azad sought the help of Dr Singh in arranging 10,000 to 12,000 tents as an immediate measure.
Mr Azad said the Prime Minister has directed the Cabinet Secretary to dispatch 10,000 tents from New Delhi forthwith for the earthquake affected areas. He also directed the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to constitute a Committee under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary, which will be in constant touch with the State administration and provide all support to State Government to undertake relief and rehabilitation operations.
It is pertinent to point out that this consignment of 10,000 tents will be in addition to 1000 tents and 2000 blankets, already sent by Indian Red Cross Society from New Delhi.
“Although the assessment of the damage is being carried out by the State Government and real picture about the extent of damage will emerge only after the process is complete, however, whatever assessment has been carried out so far, it indicates that the damage has been extensive and more than what was imagined initially”, Mr Azad said.
It needs to be mentioned that as per the assessment of respective district administration of Doda and Kishtwar, more than 30,000 houses have reportedly been fully, severely or partially damaged.
Mr Azad said that in view of massive damage that has occurred to the property and infrastructure, the Prime Minister has been requested to extend full support of Central Government to the State in this hour of need. The Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to both of them and assured that all possible measures will be taken to mitigate the hardships of affected people.
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