Rajnath Singh visits flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday held a meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here to take stock of the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Singh arrived this morning and went straight into a meeting with the Chief Minister in the technical area of the airport where both discussed steps to meet the situation arising out of the worst floods in the state in six decades.

After briefing the Home Minister, Omar himself drove Singh through the Srinagar city, which is witnessing heavy rainfall since morning.

Accompanied with Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, the Home Minister is scheduled to conduct an aerial survey in the affected districts before proceeding to Jammu where he will undertake a similar exercise in the flood-affected areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts.

Flood situation has worsened in the last few days in Jammu and Kashmir where several rivers have been flowing above the danger mark and most parts of south Kashmir, including Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam district have been submerged.

The water level in Rambiara stream in Shopian district was also seen rising fast. Flood situation in Rajouri, Reasi and Udhampur districts continues to be grim.

At least 88 people have lost their lives due to floods in the state.

The Home Minister is also accompanied by Secretary (Border Management) Snehlata Kumar and Additional Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Jitendra Singh, who hails from the state, would hold talks with senior administrative officials and seek ways for early resumption of yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, which was temporarily suspended in view of the heavy rains.

Army and IAF have joined the relief efforts and Centre has rushed in eight teams of NDRF for rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Kashmir Valley.