Imran Shah
Kishtwar/Padder: DD, Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh today visited Jammu to personally review the tragic situation caused by the devastating cloudburst at Chashoti, Padder in District Kishtwar.
Due to inclement weather, the Minister could not reach the disaster site, where MoS PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh and LG, Manoj Sinha were also scheduled to accompany him. Despite this, he immediately proceeded to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu to meet the injured victims of the tragedy.
Later, the Defence Minister held a detailed meeting through video conference with senior
officers of the UT administration and the Leader of Opposition, J&K Assembly (MLA
Padder–Nagseni), who has been continuously present at the site for over a week and directly
supervising the relief efforts.
At the very outset, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu narrated the entire sequence of the
tragic incident, the scale of destruction, the relief and rescue operations undertaken by Army,
CAPF, NDRF, SDRF, and the civil administration, as well as the challenges faced in debris
clearance, connectivity, and logistics.
The Leader of Opposition then gave a detailed briefing to the Defence Minister regarding the
ground realities.
He highlighted the scale of damage to life, property, agriculture, horticulture, and livestock, and apprised him of the role of voluntary organizations like RSS, Sewa Bharti, and local NGOs who have been working tirelessly alongside the administration.
He underlined the religious and cultural significance of the holy Machail Yatra, pointing out that the current
PMGSY road is not sufficient to bear the expected five lakh pilgrims this year.
He demanded widening of the road, installation of crash barriers, and its takeover by the Border Roads
Organisation (BRO) in view of its strategic and cultural importance.
The Leader of Opposition also stressed upon: Immediate construction of a motorable Bailey Bridge at Chashoti to restore vital
connectivity.
Establishment of an Army Goodwill School at Padder to provide quality education to
children in this remote and underserved region.
Sanctioning of a petrol pump at Padder, as the absence of refueling facilities created
major hurdles during rescue operations where heavy machinery had to be kept running
continuously.
ï‚· Installation of mobile towers in no-network zones to ensure communication during
emergencies.
Expedited release of financial support from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund
(PMNRF) and sanctioning of a comprehensive rehabilitation package to cover the heavy
losses suffered by agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and local businesses.
After listening patiently to all the concerns and demands, Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh approved on the spot the construction of the motorable Bailey Bridge at Chashoti,
directed immediate steps for improving mobile connectivity, sanctioned the establishment of
an Army Goodwill School, and gave directions for a petrol pump at Padder to meet the longstanding demand of the local people.
The Defence Minister issued clear and firm directions that there should be no compromise in
relief measures and that every affected family must feel the support of the Government in this
difficult time.
He also assured that the Government of India will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Padder not only in providing immediate relief but also in ensuring long-term infrastructural development and disaster preparedness.
The Leader of Opposition expressed deep gratitude to the Hon’ble Defence Minister for his
decisive intervention, immediate approvals, and compassionate approach.
He stated that strengthening the Machail Yatra infrastructure and overall development of Padder will provide security, livelihood, and dignity to the people of this region.DD
