J&K floods: Omar orders relief in one week

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today directed the state administration to distribute within one week Rs 75,000 as interim relief to families whose residential houses have collapsed due to floods in the state last month.

Omar directed the concerned Deputy Commissioners to provide urgent interim relief of Rs 75,000 in one week's time from Wednesday to the families whose residential houses have completely collapsed, an official spokesperson said.

Chairing a high-level monitoring meeting here to get brief on relief and rehabilitation process, the chief minister said all deputy commissioners should be sensitised in this regard.

"Ask the Deputy Commissioners to complete the task within one week from today or pack their bags," he told the top bureaucrats present in the meeting, adding, no leniency will be given to anyone in addressing the issue in the stipulated time-frame.

The deputy commissioners would be given all the support and back-up required in this regard.

It should not take any time to certify the houses which have collapsed and interim relief be provided to the owners, Omar said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of families living in tents after their houses were damaged by the devastating floods which swept Kashmir a month ago spent a sleepless night as rains lashed many parts of the Valley adding to their woes.