Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared that the government will allocate five marlas of land to each flood-affected family in Jammu and Kashmir. This initiative aims to support families rendered homeless due to devastating floods and landslides in 2025.
Abdullah made this announcement during his visit to Duggain, Billawar, where he interacted with residents whose homes and livelihoods suffered immensely from flooding. His visit also included an aerial survey of damaged areas, where he was accompanied by MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister assured the citizens of all necessary assistance. He directed the relevant authorities to facilitate timely relief and rehabilitation. “The year 2025 has brought immense devastation to Jammu and Kashmir—from the dry spell in March-April to incessant rains, flash floods, and landslides in August-September,” Abdullah stated. “From Kathua to Kupwara, the damage has been unprecedented.”
The Chief Minister highlighted the sheer scale of the destruction caused by the torrential rains. He noted that the floods damaged over 350 bridges and around 2,000 km of the road network, obliterated thousands of hectares of agricultural land, and destroyed both governmental and private property. “Given the enormity of restoration challenges, Jammu and Kashmir is looking forward to a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package from the Central Government,” he emphasized.
While focusing on first-hand assessments, Abdullah explained that his visits to Kathua’s remote areas were essential to understanding the real impact of the disaster. His aerial surveys also examined damage in Hiranagar and Lakhanpur, crucial entry points to Jammu and Kashmir.
Later, Abdullah convened a meeting with local administrative officials, including Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma, along with other civil and police authorities. He instructed the Deputy Commissioner to perform extensive tours of the affected areas and prepare detailed ground reports as soon as possible.
MLA Bani, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, spoke during the event and detailed the extensive damage in the Bani region caused by landslides into the areas like Moar, Najote, and Kanthal-Majra. He highlighted that approximately 100 families had lost all their land and property. Singh urged the government for the allocation of five marlas of land for these families while addressing other pressing issues, such as damage to the Jalana Bridge, delays in project tenders for High School Lohai, and the need for amnesty on KCC loans and electricity bills.
In response, Chief Minister Abdullah assured the public that the government will review all demands seriously and extend comprehensive support to the affected families.
