Union Cabinet Secy assures help from Centre
Jammu, March 30: Eight fully equipped National Disaster Relief Front (NDRF) teams will be arriving in Kashmir to assist the state government in its efforts to safeguard life and property of people in the wake of flood situation arising due to incessant rains that lashed the valley during past few days.
Union Cabinet Secretary, Ajit Seth who held an hour long video conference with Chief Secretary, J&K, Iqbal Khandey, assured that the state government will be provided all help in dealing with the situation and eight NDRF teams will be rushed to the State immediately from New Delhi, Patna and other places.
Union Cabinet Secretary urged the NDRF to keep necessary equipment and more boats ready, should a need arise to send them at a very short notice to the valley or any other part of the State, for rescue operations.
The NDRF teams will be stationed in South, Central and North Kashmir to assist the local administration in its efforts.
Informing the Cabinet Secretary about the measures put in place by the State Administration, Khandey said that three joint control rooms in South, North and Central Kashmir have been set up besides transport facilities have been arranged for facilitating rapid mobilization of boats to rescue and evacuate people in case any area gets flooded or inundated.
“We are ready and fully geared up to meet any eventuality,” Chief Secretary said.
The Chief Secretary further informed that no breach in Jhelum or in the flood spill channel has been reported so far and administration has kept ready sand bags to raise and fortify embankments. He said during last few days heavy rains coupled with melting snow has led to rapid increase in the discharge of rivers and rivulets.
Chief Secretary said that all available pumps have been pressed into service to drain out water from inundated areas. He said relief camps have already been established at identified locations and these have been provided with adequate quantity of ration, water, fuel, blankets and other necessary items.
Khandey said that stocks of LPG, Petrol, Diesel and K-oil are available for meeting the requirements for next 10 to 15 days, however, 2000 trucks are held up on the closed National Highway and if it could be opened at the earliest, stock position will automatically improve.
On availability of medicines, Chief Secretary said that adequate supplies are available besides all health institutions have been put on high alert and control rooms established in various hospitals.
All CMOs, BMOs and Medical Superintendents have been asked to ensure necessary arrangements are put in place in hospitals to fully deal with any eventuality. He said small DG sets have also been hired by the hospitals to provide alternate source of electricity should power supplies snap.
Union Cabinet Secretary during the meeting gave directions to the concerned authorities to make the National Highway and other roads trafficable, besides ensuring that unlike the September floods; communication facilities do not collapse and are kept active at all cost.
Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Director General of Police, K. Rajendra, Principal Secretary Power, Sandeep Naik, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Gazanffar Hussain, Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Mohammad Afzal, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Ahmed Lone and other officers were present during the video conference.
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