Jammu: An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) on Friday visited Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district to assess the damage caused by recent heavy rains and landslides. The team recommended strengthening community-based disaster preparedness and prioritising the restoration of key infrastructure.
Led by Colonel Kirti Pratap Singh, Joint Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the team also visited Udhampur and Kathua districts during its two-day tour. In Reasi, it inspected the Domel–Katra highway, the landslide-hit Ballani bridge and the slide site near Shani temple in Katra. The members also assessed crop losses in agricultural fields and interacted with farmers.
The delegation was accompanied by senior district officers, including Additional District Development Commissioner Sukhdev Singh Samyal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar and SDM Katra Piyush Dhotra, who briefed them on damages to infrastructure, housing, crops and other sectors.
At a review meeting in the Spiritual Growth Centre, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Nidhi Malik detailed the losses to lives, livestock, crops, houses, government property and community assets, as well as the ongoing restoration and relief measures. Officials informed that relief camps have been set up at Mahore, Jameslan and Sarh to provide food, shelter, medical aid and other essentials to the affected population.
The IMCT underlined the need for timely compensation to families, stronger disaster preparedness at the community level and urgent restoration of vital infrastructure. The visit, officials said, reflects the Centre’s commitment to ensuring effective relief, rehabilitation and recovery in Reasi district.
