Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 1 lakh for the severely injured in the devastating flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in Kishtwar district.
The relief package also includes Rs 50,000 for minor injuries, Rs 1 lakh for fully damaged houses, Rs 50,000 for severely damaged houses, and Rs 25,000 for partially damaged structures, all from the CM’s Relief Fund.
The announcement came after Abdullah visited Chasoti village, one of the worst-hit areas, where he met bereaved families and assured them of government support.
In a post on X, the J&K CMO said: “Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction. The Government stands firmly with the people in this hour of grief. Immediate relief and restoration measures are being taken.”
Abdullah also reviewed rescue and relief operations, receiving a detailed briefing from the Army and disaster response teams. He used a VR headset to assess the scale of destruction and directed immediate restoration of damaged infrastructure.
The cloudburst along the Machail Mata Yatra route on Thursday triggered flash floods that claimed at least 60 lives, while several others remain missing.
On Friday, Abdullah confirmed the fatalities and said efforts were still underway to trace the missing. He also hinted at an inquiry into whether preventive steps could have been taken, given that the Met Department had issued warnings prior to the disaster.
“The Army, NDRF, SDRF, Police, and Administration are working round-the-clock in rescue efforts, along with local volunteers and political workers,” Abdullah told reporters.