 Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 22: On the directions of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today visited various South Kashmir districts and took stock of the prevailing situation following incessant rainfall.
During her visit, the Minister chaired separate review meetings at the district headquarters with the respective Deputy Commissioners and senior officers from the line departments to assess the preparedness and response measures being undertaken in view of the adverse weather conditions.
The Minister took a comprehensive review of the situation, including flood preparedness, functioning of emergency response mechanisms, restoration of essential services, availability of healthcare facilities, road connectivity, power and water supply, and arrangements for evacuation and relief, wherever required.
At Kulgam, the Minister chaired a comprehensive review meeting to evaluate the readiness of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for potential weather induced emergencies.
MLA Devsar, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad Shah; Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Shahzad Alam,;ADC, Kulgam, Vikar Ahmad Giri, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Assistant Commissioner Development and other district and sectoral officers of concerned departments were present in the meeting.
Reviewing the flood protection and mitigation measures undertaken by various departments and agencies, the Minister directed all concerned officers to maintain a high level of preparedness and ensure the close monitoring of water levels in rivers to effectively respond to any emergency. She stressed on early identification of weaker spots and strengthening the flood protection and mitigation measures along the vulnerable areas of Veshow, Vethyatru and other streams.
MLA Devsar also put forth vital observations and suggestions on the weather conditions and preparations for flood mitigation.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam and ADC, Kulgam presented a detailed overview of the district's preparedness, highlighting department-wise mitigation strategies and the operational readiness of relief, rescue, and rehabilitation mechanisms.
At Shopian, Sakeena Itoo chaired a review meeting with the district administration and concerned officers to take stock of the prevailing weather conditions and the preparedness of various departments to deal with any eventuality at the Mini-Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the availability of essential commodities, the status of power and drinking water supply, availability of medicines and other emergency stocks, and the preparedness of the concerned departments. She stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted essential services and directed officers to remain vigilant, particularly in vulnerable areas.
The Minister said that the government is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the people. She directed all departments to remain on high alert, maintain close coordination and ensure prompt response in case of any emergency.
The Minister also urged the public to follow official advisories, avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable locations, and cooperate with the administration during the prevailing weather conditions. |
