Jammu, Sep 1, : Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Jammu to personally assess the devastation caused by recent cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides that have left behind a trail of death and destruction in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Home Minister was received by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and senior civil and police officers. He drove straight to Raj Bhawan, where he stayed overnight before beginning a packed day of reviews and field visits.
On Monday morning, Shah chaired a high-level meeting with top officials, including Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, IB chief Tapan Deka, BSF DG Daljit Singh Chaudhary and representatives from the National Highways Authority of India, Indian Meteorological Department and other security agencies. The meeting examined the scale of destruction to public infrastructure, private property and damage along the International Border fencing with Pakistan.
To strengthen relief and recovery measures, Shah announced the setting up of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) for Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab. These teams, led by Joint Secretary-level officers, will comprise experts from multiple ministries, including Expenditure, Agriculture, Jal Shakti, Power, Rural Development and Road Transport. They will conduct spot assessments and evaluate the relief works already underway.
Later in the day, Shah is expected to undertake an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas. His itinerary includes Katra, where 35 pilgrims lost their lives and 20 were injured after a landslide struck the old route to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on August 26, and Chishoti village in Kishtwar, devastated by a cloudburst that killed 67 pilgrims while around 40 remain missing.
The Home Minister’s visit underlines the seriousness with which New Delhi is viewing the unfolding crisis. Official figures suggest large-scale destruction of roads, bridges, homes and farmland, while rescue and restoration work continues in affected districts.
