Srinagar, Sep 25 (KNO): Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Friday informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that the government has stepped up relief and restoration measures in areas affected by flash floods, cloudbursts, heavy rains and landslides.
Replying to questions and Calling Attention Motions in the House, the Dy CM Choudhary, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that Rs 700 lakh were released under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for Rajouri and Poonch, while an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) has been sought for an on-ground assessment of the damage.
He said, “Rs 300 lakh had been released to Rajouri and Rs 400 lakh to Poonch under SDRF, while Rs 281 lakh and Rs 137 lakh respectively had been released under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).”
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government has also provided Rs 5 crore each under the UT Capex Budget for Rajouri and Poonch for priority restoration and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
The Dy CM said the government has taken up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs for deputation of an IMCT to assess damage caused by flash floods, floods, cloudbursts and landslides during the 2026 monsoon in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Aan existing mechanism involving concerned departments and district administrations is already in place for coordinated assessment, restoration and rehabilitation of affected infrastructure and essential services,” he said.
THANAMANDI SUFFERS MASSIVE DAMAGE
Giving details of the damage in the House, the Deputy Chief Minister said 182 roads, 25 HT poles/33 KV line infrastructure, 70 transformers, 72 drinking-water schemes, 51.98 hectares of agricultural land, 1.90 hectares of horticulture land and 149 houses were affected in Thanamandi constituency.
In Poonch district, he said 388 roads, 55 bridges, 29 power stations/transformers, 72 drinking-water schemes, 217.7 hectares of agricultural land and 379 houses were affected.
He said the final damage assessment for Thanamandi stood at Rs 13,025.94 lakh for roads and bridges, Rs 1,360.43 lakh for power infrastructure, Rs 4,149 lakh for water supply schemes and Rs 6,024 lakh for khuls.
“For Rajouri district, the assessment stood at Rs 46,022.57 lakh, including Rs 18,517.50 lakh for roads and bridges, Rs 3,144.32 lakh for power infrastructure and Rs 24,360.75 lakh for water supply schemes,” the Dy CM tells House.
He said, for Poonch, the final assessment was Rs 18,185.95 lakh for roads and bridges, Rs 233.75 lakh for power infrastructure, Rs 2,315.07 lakh for water supply schemes and Rs 186.97 lakh for khuls.
On relief disbursement, Choudhary said Rs 75.52 lakh had been provided to 149 affected families in Thanamandi under SDRF norms, while Rs 120.50 lakh was provided to 138 families under CMRF. In Poonch, Rs 216.379 lakh had been disbursed to affected families under SDRF.
Cloudburst-hit infrastructure
Replying to a question raised by MLA Shakti Raj Parihar, Choudhary said restoration of infrastructure affected by flash floods and cloudbursts across Jammu and Kashmir was underway.
He said roads and water-supply schemes affected during 2025-26 had been temporarily restored, while permanent restoration works were in progress. “Infrastructure affected during 2026-27 had also been partially restored, with permanent restoration works being taken up in all affected districts,” he said.
He said financial assistance admissible under SDRF norms was being provided to affected persons, while additional assistance had been extended under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to families whose residential structures were damaged.
In Kishtwar, Rs 1 lakh each was provided to 16 households whose houses were damaged in the Chishoti cloudburst during 2025-26, while Rs 25,000 each was provided to three partially damaged houses.
For 2026-27, rupees 108 lakh had been released under CMRF in Poonch for 87 beneficiaries, while rupees 281 lakh had been released in Rajouri for 377 beneficiaries whose structures suffered damage.
Hailstorm-hit farmers to get assistance
The Deputy Chief Minister said all eligible farmers affected by the hailstorm during the intervening night of September 18 and 19 in parts of Srigufwara and Bijbehara would be provided financial assistance.
Replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by legislator Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, he said preliminary assessment showed damage to 83.5 hectares of agricultural land belonging to 415 farmers.
Paddy crop damage in several areas was assessed at 70 to 95 percent, with the highest damage reported in Trai-Sakhras and Hanumanpora. “In the horticulture sector, preliminary damage of 5 to 15 percent was reported from Hafizabad, Arwani, Rakh Moman, Marhama, T.M. Shah, Semthan, Baliyar, Trail, Hanumanpora, Adlash and Chandpora,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said farmers covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) would receive settlement from designated insurance companies after verification, while eligible farmers not enrolled under the scheme could receive compensation under SDRF.
He said concerned field agencies had been directed to complete assessment and verification of crop losses to ensure that eligible farmers receive relief under the prescribed provisions—(KNO)