Srinagar, July 1: Governor N.N. Vohra made an unscheduled visit today morning to the State Flood Control Room, located at Hari Niwas Srinagar, and attended the proceedings of the extensive meeting taken by Baseer Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to review preparedness of all wings of the Divisional Administration to evacuate the affected residents if the Jhelum crosses the high flood level.
This meeting reviewed every aspect of preparedness of the Relief Centres, being established all over the city, to receive and look after the affected population which would be shifted to these Centres as soon as the Jhelum river level crosses a given level.
Governor is keeping constant touch with the key functionaries and has directed that Situation Reports should be sent to him thrice a day till the present situation eases.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; and Officers from the Department of Police; CRPF; Health, Indian Meteorological Department; Tourism; Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs; J&K LAWDA; Srinagar Municipal Corporation; JKSRTC; Irrigation and Flood Control; Maintenance & Rural Electrification Wing; Public Health Engineering; Roads & Building; Information; Estates, and FCI.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Sunday said the situation having arisen from incessant rains is being closely monitored at all levels in all the Valley districts and that there is no need to panic even as he cautioned those living around rivers and tributaries to remain alert after the water levels have started receding.
He said the administration is fully geared not just in terms of rescue operations but also in those of rehabilitation of evacuees wherever required including all along the 25 kilometre Jhelum stretch in capital district Srinagar.
He said all 44 relief camps identified for establishment in Srinagar have now been established with each camp having been set up at a catchment location. He said all camps have been equipped with all essential facilities ranging from shelter to food.
The Div Com said rescue teams comprising men from SDRF, Police, Army and CRPF have been deployed across the Srinagar district to deal with any rescue eventualities.
He said that periodical meetings are convened to review the status of flood control operations that are underway in various districts of the division besides taking minute-to-minute updates of the emerging situation.
Khan said that as directed by the Governor the flood control drill underway at present will continue for about three months in order to address this situation by effectively keeping in view the ongoing monsoon season in the state.
He said dewatering efforts at several areas inundated from water-logging on Saturday are also rigorously underway and added that the situation having arisen at Rakh-e-Arth is also being well taken care of.
The Div Com said hourly reports about the situation and efforts on the ground as received by his office are immediately sent to the offices of the Chief Secretary and the Advisors to the Governor which are closely monitoring the flood control and rescue and relief operations underway on the ground.
