JAMMU: A total of 336 people were killed and 14,000 houses damaged in recent floods and rains in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official spokesman here. However, unofficial toll in the recent rains and floods in the state has risen to 368 with 125 casualties in Kashmir division and 243 in Jammu division. The spokesman said the toll could be higher as reports of more casually had gone up to 125, according to a Srinagar report.

The spokesman said 14,000 houses were damaged and over 6,000 cattle perished. Meanwhile, a rough estimate of the damage to crops, public and Private property caused by the recent floods and rains in Jammu and Kashmir has been putatRs:400 crore,

With reports of damage to the property and life still pouring in from far flung areas it is feared that many more might have died due to flash floods and massive landslides in the state,

Hundreds of bridges have been washed away. The important old bridge at Akhnoor had given way to unprecedented floods On the Srinagar-Leh road nearly a dozen bridges have been completely damaged. An official report from Doda district said that a total of 133 bridges and 67 water mills were damaged besides damage to the roads.

The Srinagar-Jammu highway remained blocked for 7th day on Sept.15 as the men of the border roads organization tried to clear the landslides, The power and water supply has been badly affected with damage to the Salal hydro-electric project. One electricity receiving station at Ramsoo in Doda district has been washed away.

Nearly 50% of the maize crop in Poonch and Rajouri districts has been completely damaged. According to a preliminary survey by an official team, 75 acres of land has been completely washed away in Khour block of Jammu district and crops in 1836 acres of land affected in the district, 50 bridges have been damaged in Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Besides the repair of the damage, the resource-hit state which has already been under immense financial strain is finding it difficult to carry on the relief efforts. The state government has only Rs. nine crores in its relief fund.

While the state government has announced the grant of Rs.20,000 to the next of kin of those killed in floods as ex-gratia grant, all the deputy commissioners have been provided Rs.25 lakh Each to start priority utility services and relief efforts.

The district administration and various other “government agencies are also busy preparing reports about the estimated damage caused by the unprecedented floods and rains in anticipation of the visit of the central team which is schedule to visit flood ravaged areas of the state during the current week.

M.L. Fotedar, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare visited the flood affected areas of Kashmir and Jammu regions during his two day visit,

Besides the damage to the roads, bridges, power houses and telecommunication lines, timber estimated at worth Rs.50 crores has also been washed away with the strong current of the Chenab, Jhelum and Tawi rivers.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 25, 1992