Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday directed the pisional Administration, Jammu to take all requisite measures of ensuring safety of life of the people in the areas hit by shelling from across the border. He said that food, temporary shelter, transportation, medical facilities and supply of drinking water should be made available at the camps established for the border people who have migrated for heavy shelling from their areas.According to a statement issued to KNS In a video conferencing he had with the pisional Commissioner, Inspector General and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu from here this noon, the Chief Minister received brief about the arrangements made to safeguard the lives of border people under the shelling from across the border.
The Chief Minister was informed that 24 temporary camps have been established in Jammu, Samba and Kathua Districts at safer places for the families hit by the shelling and over 7,000 people are residing in these camps. It was stated that free food, medicine, blankets and other requirements are being provided to the inmates of these camps.The Chief Minister directed for identifying more places of shelter so that these are utilized in the hour of need. He said private banquet halls and other accommodation should be identified for providing shelter to the affected.The Chief Minister directed the pisional Commissioner to sensitize all the concerned Deputy Commissioners in this regard and ensure that the people migrating from the shelling-hit areas do not face any difficulty on account of food, shelter, medicine, drinking water and other such requirements. He said that surplus ambulances from other districts should be put in operation for the shelling affected people. He asked the pisional Commissioner to take Health Department on board in this regard.
Omar Abdullah also directed for making arrangements for establishing temporary camps for cattle. He said Sheep and Animal Husbandry Department should be associated in this regard to arrange fodder and medical treatment for the cattle.The Chief Minister directed for immediate release of compensation to the affected families for loss of precious human lives as also for the loss of cattle. “Money is no problem in this respect, you only ensure release of compensation and safeguarding the lives of people”, he asserted and said that the funds required in this regard will be released urgently.The Chief Minister has already announced three months free ration for the affected families.
Omar Abdullah received brief on the current firing situation in Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Poonch and other areas. He was informed that as many as 7 human lives have so far been lost in the firing and shelling across the border while 69 people have been injured. It was reported that two people have been killed in the firing in Samba Sector today.Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Home, Suresh Kumar and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas were present in the Video Conferencing. (KNS)