CM Conducts Aerial Survey of Flood-Hit Kathua, Pledges Government Support to Affected Families
Billawar (Kathua): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced that the government will provide five marlas of land to each family rendered homeless by recent floods and landslides in Kathua, enabling them to rebuild their homes.
The announcement came during the CM’s visit to Duggain, Billawar, where residents’ homes and livelihoods were severely impacted. Earlier, he conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, accompanied by MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh.
Assuring comprehensive relief, Omar Abdullah directed the district administration to ensure timely support for affected families. “The year 2025 has brought immense challenges to Jammu and Kashmir—from the dry spell in March-April to relentless rains, flash floods, and landslides in August-September,” he said. “From Kathua to Kupwara, the damage has been unprecedented.”
The Chief Minister highlighted the scale of destruction, noting that torrential rains damaged over 350 bridges, nearly 2,000 km of roads, thousands of hectares of farmland, and countless government and private buildings. He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package from the Central Government to tackle the restoration challenges.
Omar Abdullah stressed the importance of on-ground assessment, explaining that his visit to remote areas of Kathua, including Hiranagar and Lakhanpur, aimed to understand the full extent of the damage. He later chaired a meeting with the district administration, including Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma, ADC, and senior civil and police officials, instructing the DC to tour all affected areas and submit detailed ground reports promptly.
MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, noted that heavy rains had caused extensive damage in his constituency, particularly in villages like Moar, Najote, and Kanthal-Majra, where nearly 100 families lost their land and property. He requested land allotment, repair of Jalana Bridge, timely completion of works at High School Lohai, upgradation of High School Sadrota, and relief measures including KCC loan and electricity bill waivers for affected families.
The Chief Minister assured that all demands would be examined seriously and that the government would provide every possible assistance to flood-affected families.
