Lieutenant Governor Reviews Flood Response, Directs Immediate Restoration of Essential Services and Infrastructure
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a high-level meeting to assess rescue and relief operations, and review the preparedness of Union Territory authorities and central agencies—including the Army, Air Force, NDRF, CAPFs—amidst the ongoing heavy rains and flash floods.
The Lieutenant Governor directed officials to take all possible measures to ensure the safe evacuation of residents from low-lying and flood-affected areas. He emphasized the immediate restoration and uninterrupted maintenance of essential services, including power, healthcare, clean drinking water, rations, and telecommunication. Areas affected by the floods must have adequate stock of essential supplies and medicines.
For infrastructure restoration, LG Sinha instructed the Power Development Department (PDD) to coordinate closely with NHPC Limited and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for the early restoration of power infrastructure. He also called upon the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to support the Public Works Department in repairing UT roads and National Highways. Roads and bridges on alternate routes must also be restored to ensure smooth traffic movement, and hospitals must be prepared to handle any surge in patients with water-borne diseases.
The Lieutenant Governor further directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti, to arrange alternative sources of clean drinking water for waterlogged and flood-affected areas, particularly in remote and hilly habitations, while restoring regular water supply infrastructure. He instructed the Secretaries of Health, Public Works (R&B), Food and Civil Supplies, and Power Development Department to remain stationed in Jammu Division and reach affected areas without taking leave.
Non-essential government offices, schools, and colleges have been ordered to remain closed until further notice. Every district has been instructed to maintain 24×7 control rooms to assist individuals and households impacted by flooding. Emergency response teams must be pre-positioned in vulnerable areas, with additional teams equipped and ready for rapid deployment.
The Lieutenant Governor is monitoring the situation round-the-clock in close coordination with UT and central agency officials. He praised the swift action of the Army, Air Force, NDRF, CAPFs, District Administration, Police, and SDRF in minimizing loss of life through timely evacuations.
The meeting was attended by Shri Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C Northern Command; Shri Santosh Yadav, Chairman NHAI; Shri Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, GOC 15 Corps; Shri Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to LG; Shri Vivek Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager Jammu; Shri Devansh Yadav, Commissioner JMC; Maj Gen Mukesh Banwala, GOC 26 Inf Division; Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Shri Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; along with Administrative Secretaries of all departments and senior officials from the Army, CAPFs, Air Force, NHAI, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, UT telecom heads, and District Commissioners.
