After Poonch Tragedy, J&K Promises Land, Better Disaster Warning Systems

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday announced that families rendered landless by the recent cloudbursts and flash floods in Poonch district will be allotted five-marla residential plots as part of the government's rehabilitation package.

The announcement came during the chief minister's visit to the worst-affected areas, where he assessed the scale of destruction, met grieving families and reviewed ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts with district officials.

At Murrah, Abdullah visited the home of Mohammad Latif, who lost eight family members in the disaster. In Surankote, he interacted with residents and delegations from Sangla, Darra Sangla and Lower Sangla, who highlighted extensive damage to homes, farmland and public infrastructure, along with the tragic loss of lives.

The chief minister also travelled to Arigam-Loran, where he met the family of Mohd Rafiq and Riaz Ahmed, who lost seven relatives in the floods. He participated in Fatiha Khwani and offered prayers for the deceased, assuring survivors that the administration would stand firmly with them during the rebuilding process.

Announcing the rehabilitation measure, Abdullah said families left without land because of the disaster would receive five-marla plots to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and security.

Describing the cloudbursts as an unprecedented natural calamity, the chief minister noted that such events remain difficult to forecast with existing technology. He said the government would examine the adoption of advanced early-warning systems to strengthen disaster preparedness and reduce future loss of life and property.

Later, Abdullah chaired a high-level review meeting to assess rescue operations, relief distribution and rehabilitation measures undertaken after the disaster. He praised Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police Shafqat Hussain for their prompt leadership, saying their coordinated response helped save lives and ensured timely assistance reached affected communities. He also assured residents that rehabilitation would remain the government's top priority until normalcy returns across affected villages.