Shah speaks to LG, CM; assures all help

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah spoke to Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on the cloudburst in Kathua and assured all support from the Central Government.

“Spoke with the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the cloudburst in Kathua. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the local administration and NDRF teams have also been rushed to the site. Assured every support from the Modi Government. We stand firmly behind our sisters and brothers of J&K,” Shah wrote on X.

Sinha, Abdullah and Union Minister Jitendra Singh have expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incidents.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the devastating rain-triggered landslides in several areas of Kathua,. The tragedy is mind-numbing. Briefed Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on rescue and relief operations by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, Police and administration”.

“I have directed senior civil and police officials to coordinate and execute rescue and aid efforts in the affected areas and ensure on-site medical assistance. My thoughts are with bereaved families and praying for the swift recovery of those injured,” the Lt Governor said in a post on X.

The Chief Minister announced ex-gratia assistance to the deceased from the CM’s relief fund.

In a post shared on X by the office of Chief Minister, Abdullah said the assistance is aimed at providing immediate relief and supporting the affected families in rebuilding their lives.

“The Chief Minister, expressing deep concern for the lives and property affected by the recent cloudburst in Kathua, has announced ex-gratia assistance from the CM’s Relief Fund, in addition to SDRF support,” the post read.

It said Rs 2 lakh would be given to next of kin of each deceased, Rs one lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries from CM’s Relief Fund. It would be in addition to the support from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs one lakh for fully damaged houses, Rs 50,000 for severely damaged houses and Rs 25,000 for partially damaged houses.

Abdullah also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, and assured all necessary assistance.

Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh said the civilian administration, military and paramilitary forces have swung into action and inducted helicopter services for rescue and relief operations in the cloudburst-hit Kathua district.

“Spoke to Kathua SSP Shobhit Saxena after receiving information about a cloudburst in the Janglote area,” Singh wrote in an X post.

“Four casualties have been reported (in Janglote). In addition, damage has occurred to the railway track and National Highway, while Kathua Police Station has also been affected,” he added.

The civilian administration, military and paramilitary forces have swung into action, he said, adding that the situation is being continuously monitored.

Helicopter services have been arranged for shifting the injured to appropriate hospitals, he said.

“ix injured have been airlifted for hospitalisation in Mamoon, Pathankot, which was found to be (the) relatively nearer destination,” the Minister wrote, adding, “My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.”

Singh said Deputy Inspector General of Police, Shiv Kumar Sharma, along with his team, is camping at the spot and is in constant touch with him.

Further assistance will be arranged as and when required, he added.

Minister of Transport, Satish Sharma visited GMC Kathua to inquire about injured.  He also visited affected areas and interacted with bereaved families and expressed his profound grief over loss of lives.

MLA Jasrota, Rajiv Jasrotia, MLA, Kathua, Dr Bharat Bushan, DIG Jammu -Kathua range Bharat Bushan and DC Kathua Rajesh Sharma also visited GMC Kathua to inquire about the health of injured persons.

Earlier, Rajiv Jasrotia visited the affected areas and announced Rs one lakh as relief from his CDF for totally damaged houses, Rs 50000 for severely damage houses and Rs 25,000 for partially damaged houses.

Former Sadar-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Karan Singh has expressed anguish at the tragic cloudburst in Kathua district that has claimed several lives and caused wide spread destruction.

In a message of solidarity, Dr Karan Singh said that the loss of precious lives and destruction of homes in this natural calamity has brought immense sorrow to the people of UT. He extended his heart felt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace of departed souls and courage to bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.