Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said five marlas of land will be provided to each flood-affected family rendered homeless to allow them to reconstruct their dwelling units. Abdullah made the announcement while interacting with residents of Duggain village in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district, whose houses and livelihoods were severely impacted by the recent flooding.
The chief minister conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Kathua and Reasi districts, accompanied by Bani MLA Rameshwar Singh and MLA Gulabgarh Khurshied Ahmed. He also met the people in Mahore in Reasi. Assuring people of all possible assistance, Abdullah directed the administration to ensure timely relief and rehabilitation measures.
“The year 2025 has brought immense devastation to Jammu and Kashmir -- from the dry spell in March-April to incessant rains, flash floods, and landslides in August-September. From Kathua to Kupwara, the damage has been unprecedented,” he said. Abdullah highlighted the scale of destruction, noting that torrential rains have damaged over 350 bridges, around 2,000 km of road network, thousands of hectares of agricultural land, besides washing away standing crops and inflicting damages on both Government and private buildings. “Given the enormity of restoration challenges, Jammu and Kashmir is looking forward to a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package from the Central Government,” he added. Emphasising the importance of first-hand assessment, Abdullah said his visit to the remote and isolated areas of Kathua was aimed at understanding the ground realities.
He also undertook an aerial survey of damages in Hiranagar and Lakhanpur, the entry point of Jammu and Kashmir. Later, the CM convened a meeting with district administration.