Home Minister Amit Shah Allocates ₹209 Crore Relief Package, Reviews Flood-Hit Areas in Jammu and Kashmir

Home Minister Amit Shah Allocates ₹209 Crore Relief Package, Reviews Flood-Hit Areas in Jammu and Kashmir

JAMMU, Sept 2 — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that the Centre has released ₹209 crore as its share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for Jammu and Kashmir, enabling relief and rehabilitation work to begin in flood-affected areas across the Union Territory.

Accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Shah visited several affected locations, including the Tawi bridge and Mangu Chak village, to personally assess the damage caused by flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides triggered by days of relentless rain.

“The Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this hour of crisis. Relief work has already started, and more assistance will follow once survey teams from the Ministry of Home Affairs complete their assessment,” Shah said during his visit.

High-Level Meetings at Raj Bhawan

During the day, Shah chaired three consecutive meetings at Raj Bhawan — first to review the overall flood situation, second with BJP leaders from the UT led by party chief Sat Sharma, and a third with top security officials. He directed officials to ensure quick assessment of damages and emphasized that water supply, healthcare, and ration distribution remain top priorities.

He also stressed the need for a critical review of early warning systems, urging the Meteorological Department and the NDMA to study the causes of cloudbursts and develop AI-based forecasting tools to reduce casualties in the future.

Relief and Rescue Operations

Officials briefed Shah that over 5,000 people have been evacuated to safer locations in the past week. Seventeen NDRF teams, 23 Army columns, helicopters from the Air Force, and personnel from CAPFs and J&K Police are still deployed in affected areas.

“More than 80 percent of electricity supply has been restored, drinking water has started reaching villages, and health facilities are functional,” Shah noted. He appreciated the joint efforts of disaster response agencies and the UT administration for carrying out swift rescue missions.

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Voices from the Ground

In Mangu Chak village, Shah met flood-hit families who lost homes and belongings. “The Home Minister visited my house and assured me of relief. There is nothing left after the deluge,” said Bhan Singh, a resident who lost all household items. Another villager, Chain Dass, said he was “lucky to survive” and hoped authorities would take measures to prevent such devastation in the future.

Rising Toll and Damage

According to official figures, more than 130 people have died and 33 remain missing since mid-August in cloudburst, landslide, and flood incidents across Kishtwar, Kathua, Reasi, and Ramban. Among the victims were 34 Vaishno Devi pilgrims killed in a landslide and 65 yatris who perished near Machail Mata Ji temple in Kishtwar.

Heavy rainfall on August 26–27 caused unprecedented flooding in low-lying areas, inflicting widespread damage to infrastructure, roads, and homes. Restoration of key services is underway, but authorities have acknowledged that rebuilding will take time.

Security Review

Besides relief efforts, Shah also chaired a security review, reiterating the Centre’s zero-tolerance approach toward terrorism. He praised the coordination among security agencies during the Amarnath Yatra, which saw over 4 lakh pilgrims visiting the cave shrine this year without incident.

Before returning to New Delhi in the evening, Shah reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to provide “prompt relief, financial assistance, and technical support” to Jammu and Kashmir until normalcy is fully restored.