Kishtwar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday announced ex-gratia relief for victims of the flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in Kishtwar. Families of the deceased will receive ₹2 lakh each, while the severely injured will be given ₹1 lakh.
The government will also provide ₹50,000 to those with minor injuries. Compensation from the CM’s Relief Fund will include ₹1 lakh for fully damaged structures, ₹50,000 for severely damaged structures, and ₹25,000 for partially damaged ones.
The announcement came during the CM’s visit to the affected areas, where he met with victims’ families. “The Government stands firmly with the people in this hour of grief,” the JK CMO posted on X. He also instructed immediate restoration of damaged infrastructure.
Earlier, Abdullah visited Chasoti village, one of the worst-hit areas, and reviewed relief and rescue operations. He received a detailed briefing from Army personnel and used a VR headset to assess the scale of destruction, assuring immediate support for affected families.
The cloudburst, which struck along the Machail Mata Yatra route on Thursday, has left at least 60 people dead and caused widespread devastation. The CM confirmed the toll on Friday, adding that the number of missing persons was still being verified.
“We will also look into whether preventive steps could have been taken, as the Met Department had issued warnings,” Abdullah said, praising the ongoing rescue efforts by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, police, administration, and volunteers from various political parties.
