Jammu, Aug 17: The recent torrential rainfall in Jammu division has led to loss of nearly Rs 30 crore to public and private property.
 Sources said that though the district level teams are still assessing the cost of devastation caused by the rains and flash floods, but the ground reports from various areas reveal that PHE, PDD and roads infrastructure is worst affected by flash floods and more than two dozen pucca houses are completely  damaged .
 Important to note that about 15 persons lost their lives, while 70 others had sustained injuries in the flash floods that hit Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri recently.
 “Our teams are on job to assess the exact losses. We will start providing necessary relief after we get the final reports from various areas”, said Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal.
 Officials said that in many areas people who lost their household items and cattle are approaching the administration seeking their help to start their life afresh, but so far no decision has been taken by the officials. Jammu has recorded over 230 mm rainfall since August 11 creating flood like situation in the entire division.
 Well informed sources said that the preliminary reports from various government agencies have put the loss more than Rs 30 crore. “This do not include the loss suffered by the farmers at various places across the region”, sources said.
 Meanwhile, life is limping back to normal in the affected areas, particularly in Beli-Charana and Bishnah areas where the Gujjar Khulas were washed away in flash flood. Many nomadic families had lost their cattle in the natural calamity.
 “So far we have not received any relief from the administration. Our belongings and cattle got washed away and we expect immediate help," said Ghulam Din, one of the affected person.
 The landslides which had blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, via Manda-Nandani and Panjtirthi-Manda are being cleared by the agencies for the smooth plying of the traffic.
 Officials said that civil administration continue to maintain red alert in entire division in anticipation of the rainfall with Divisional Commissioner heading the disaster management team.
 Sources said that the   devastation caused by the rainfall has   exposed the disaster management preparations as the committee constituted  in this regard has failed to provide help to the affected people due to lack of coordination.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST