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Azad visits snow-hit areas

Staff Reporter

Interacts with locals in Doda and Kishtwar areas

Ministers sent to assess situation
530 civilians rescued between Jammu and Srinagar

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday undertook an extensive tour of heavy snowfall hit districts of Doda and Kishtwar to personally assess the situation and instill confidence among people living in hostile weather conditions for the past week.

Accompanied by Director-General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, the Chief Minister took advantage of the first signs of improvement in the weather in many days and flew to Bhadarwah to interact with people and gain first-hand feedback on the situation. The Bhadarwah town had a level of about 5 feet snow while the upper reaches had about 12 feet snowfall. The power supply in the town had been restored while snow clearance from roads was being taken up on priority.

The Chief Minister also flew to Sherkhi village where the snow had accumulated up to 17 feet. He also made an aerial survey of the adjoining villages of Thanala and Bhejja which, like the rest of the habitations in the upper reaches, were totally cut off. Mr. Azad also visited Kishtwar and besides meeting with the local people, also had a meeting with the civil, army, police and security forces officers about the situation and measures being taken up to provide relief to the people.

Talking to reporters, the Chief Minister said that he had sent teams of ministers to other areas in the State affected by heavy snowfall on an assessment visit of the administration to reach out to the people in distress.

The State government on Saturday released initial figures of loss due to heavy snowfall in the area. Officials said that in the Kashmir valley 10 people had died while two were missing. These included 6 deaths in Kapran, 1 in Gulab Bagh, 1 in Gurez and 2 in Tangdhar. Two persons were reported missing in Gurez. Two houses had been reported as fully damaged in Kulgam district while 23 houses were partially damaged across the valley. Six people were reported to have received injuries. In the Jammu division, 9 persons including 6 in Ramsu, 1 in Assar and 2 in Chenani, had been reported dead.

Meanwhile heeding to the request of the State, the Indian Air Force on Saturday rescued 530 civilians between Jammu and Srinagar who were stuck due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway 1A.

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