CM Omar Abdullah announces relief for people of sinking village near LoC in Poonch

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited the Kalaban village along the Line of Control (LOC) in Poonch to oversee the damage caused by land subsidence in the area and announced an immediate relief of Rs 38 lakh to the affected families in addition to Rs 50 lakh sanctioned under SDRF.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to standing with the affected people in this hour of distress. He was accompanied by Minister Javed Ranaa during his visit.

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Omar interacted with the affected families and listened to their concerns. He assured them that the government firmly stands with them in this difficult time and that all possible support will be extended to ensure their rehabilitation.

Kalaban in the Mendhar tehsil has been experiencing land subsidence since 11 September. It has impacted over 1,000 people and damaged more than 95 houses, a graveyard, and a mosque. Residents have been relocated to safe shelters.

Kalaban is one of the 11 villages that faced land subsidence in Jammu, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi districts after the recent heavy rains and flash floods, resulting in damage to over 200 houses and the displacement of more than 3,000 people.

Officials made an elaborate presentation before the CM on the disaster and the measures taken by the administration in its aftermath.

According to the officials, teams are conducting damage assessments to identify high-risk zones and mitigate further damage to life and property.

A temporary control room has been set up at the sub-division level to coordinate relief efforts through the administration, NGOs, and volunteers, the officials said.

The Chief Minister also visited Udhampur to inspect the ongoing restoration work on the vital Jammu–Srinagar National Highway-44. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite the work and ensure smooth movement of traffic, particularly for fruit trucks and essential supplies.

During his on-spot assessment of the restoration work, the Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to expedite the process, noting that the prolonged closure is severely impacting the supply of essentials, including fresh fruit.

This marked the Chief Minister’s second visit to the affected site, which came a day after he, along with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, reviewed the progress of restoration efforts.