SAHIL BHAT
AUG 19: In the aftermath of Kishtwar cloudburst, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that a team of experts will be appointed to keep an eye in advance on cloudburst-prone areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the reporters at the sidelines of a one-day Educational Stakeholders Conclave on NEP-2020 at SKICC, Srinagar, CM Omar Abdullah said that the last time such catastrophe hit Ramban, however, there was less loss of lives and more damage to property.
“In the past, the landslide hit Ramban, which resulted in damage to property and this time the calamity struck Kishtwar claiming several lives. In order to prevent future damage, a team of experts will be appointed to monitor the cloudburst-prone areas.”
CM Omar added that it should be assumed that the missing people who are around 70 in numbers are dead and rescuing them is beyond possibility. He added that our efforts are underway to retrieve as many bodies as we can and then handover them to the affected families.
“In Kishtwar, our priority is to recover the missing, support affected families, and take expert measures to prevent future disasters,” CM said.
Pertinent to mention, at least 61 people have lost their lives in Kishtwar Cloudburst. The rescue operation has been intensified with earthmovers and sniffer dogs searching the bodies trapped under debris. Indian Army, local Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been divided into teams and are braving the inclement weather and working tirelessly to retrieve the bodies.
