Chand visits quake-hit areas, reviews relief measures

Jammu: A team of Jammu and Kashmir ministers headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand on Thursday visited the quake affected areas of Jammu region and took stock of relief and rehabilitation work. Chand, along with Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, and Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan, interacted with people and inquired about their problems and relief measures at Bhalessa, Gandoh, Changa, Kishtwar, Thatri and Drubshalla areas.

"Every affected family would be provided relief and rehabilitation assistance as per the damages assessed by the teams constituted for the purpose," Tara Chand said. He said preliminary reports have shown huge damage to the public, as well as, government property across the region, adding that as the survey gets completed within a couple of days, a clear picture comes out about the actual damages. Tara Chand directed the officers to ensure distribution of tents to the affected families. During a meeting with officers of different departments, later in the day, the ministers asked them to be available round the clock for redressing the grievances of the people.

The Ministers were informed that in Doda 29,000 houses have been damaged partially, while 10,500 have been severely damaged. The officials added that 655 houses in Doda were damaged fully in the quake. In Kishtwar district, 18,000 houses have been partially damaged, 27,00 severely and 70 fully, while in Ramban District the private property worth Rs 15 lakh has been reported as damaged, they said. The loss to government property in Ramban has been put at Rs 1.5 crore, while in Doda District government property worth 80 crore has been damaged. In Kishtwar Rs 8 crore has been reported as loss to the government property, they informed.

In Doda district 494 schools, 12 Primary Health Centres and 273 community centres have been damaged severely, whereas 169 schools reported as damaged in Kishtwar. The meeting was also informed that as many as 2,500 tents have been distributed in Doda district, while 750 tents distributed in Kishtwar till date.