Mahore (Reasi), September 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of district Reasi before reaching Mahore to meet the people reeling under the devastation. Accompanied by MLA Gulabgarh, Er. Khurshied Ahmed, and other senior officials, the Chief Minister expressed deep solidarity with the affected families and reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to prioritizing their relief and rehabilitation.
Addressing a gathering of flood victims, Omar Abdullah spoke with empathy and candor. “The purpose of my visit here is to share your pain and express my condolences for the loss of lives and property you have suffered. I want you to believe that you are not alone in this difficult time,” he said, assuring people of sustained Government intervention to help them rebuild their lives.
The Chief Minister recalled that his wish was for Er. Khurshied Ahmed’s first programme as MLA to be one of joy and development—laying the foundation of new projects or inaugurating new facilities. “But destiny had something else in store,” he remarked. “It is not a favour that Khurshied Sahab and I are here; it is our duty and our way of repaying the faith you placed in us last year.”
Reflecting on the unusual challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir this year, Omar Abdullah said that J&K had gone from the threat of severe drought earlier in February–April, to unprecedented floods that wreaked havoc from Kathua to Kupwara. “In the beginning of the year, there was no sign of rain, and I had asked our irrigation, flood control, and PHE departments to prepare for drought. Yet, when the rains came, they came with such fury that plains and mountains alike were ravaged,” he noted.
He candidly acknowledged that lapses in planning and road construction practices may have compounded the damage, particularly where mountain cutting led to landslides and road collapses. “Thousands of kilometres of roads under PWD and PMGSY networks simply vanished,” he observed, stressing the need for better foresight in future infrastructure planning.
Interacting personally with affected families, the Chief Minister assured them that comprehensive relief measures and long-term rehabilitation plans were being put into motion. “We will not only help you tide over the immediate crisis but also ensure that your lives are rebuilt afresh with dignity and resilience,” he pledged.
