 Relief to be disbursed by DCs to affected families immediately.
JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday told Legislative Assembly that government is declaring the recent windstorm which lashed the Valley and parts of Jammu during the intervening night of 19th and 20th March as a natural calamity.
“The necessary Government Order to this effect is being issued by the General Administration Departmentâ€, he said adding that the windstorm speed was of 40 knots and the cyclone crossing 35 knots constitutes natural calamity.
In a statement made by him in the House before the start of Question Hour, Omar Abdullah said that a team of Ministers comprising Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation and Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani have been deputed to visit affected areas in Poonch, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora, Srinagar and other areas to further undertake on the spot review of the damages.
Omar Abdullah said that he himself took an emergency meeting at Srinagar on March 20 and visited various areas to take first hand appraisal of the windstorm which claimed 3 precious human lives while 39 persons received injuries. The tornado damaged residential houses, non-residential structures, public service infrastructure including power distribution system, school buildings, a Mosque and a Temple.
The Chief Minister said that the distribution of relief by the concerned Deputy Commissioners would start soon the order for declaring the windstorm as natural calamity is issued. He said DCs have been given clear cut directions to remain totally apolitical in the distribution of relief to the affected. “Politics has no role to play in such incidents where humanity has sufferedâ€, he said that playing politics in the distribution of relief will not be allowed. “We are never in favour of it and will not allow it to happenâ€, he maintained.
In all 12475 residential houses were damaged partially in Kashmir and Jammu provinces. Of this, partially damaged houses in Kashmir Valley account for 11641 while it stood 834 in Jammu province. The fully damaged houses in Kashmir are 95 in number while in Jammu province the number is 36. No death of any person took place in Jammu province however, 5 persons were injured in the windstorm. Out of the 98 school buildings damaged 42 are in Kashmir while as 56 are in Jammu province. Also 10 houseboats in Kashmir were partially damaged in the windstorm.
The tentative losses ascertained by the Power Development Department are to the tune of Rs. 4.66 crores in Kashmir while losses in Jammu province especially in Poonch are being assessed. (KMW NEWS)
