The Minister for Public Health Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sukhnandan Kumar Choudhary today visited Baltal and Sonamarg where 3 persons died and 11 injured due to cloudburst late last night.A portion of Sonamarg-Baltal road at Neelgrath has been blocked due to landslides and Yatra was suspended from Baltal route.The BEACON authorities and civil administration have pressed men and machinery into service for removing the mud and stones accumulated on the road.
The Minister was informed that out of 3 dead, 2 children were from Rajasthan and one from Delhi who were working as labourers near base camp Baltal. Out of 11 injured persons one seriously injured was airlifted to SKIMS Srinagar for further treatment.The Minister was informed that due to sudden cloudburst, landslides have caused damage to property, vehicles, shops, tents and langars established there. He was apprised that a team of senior officers is assessing the loss of damages caused due to cloudburst.
Sukhnandan crossed the landslide by foot to reach base camp. He went round the base camp and took stock of functioning of hospital where the injured person are admitted.The Minister was informed that all the civil departments like PHE, Health, PDD, Revenue, Electricity, CAPD are working smoothly in the base camp. He was also informed that sufficient quality of ration and medicines including life saving drugs and X-Ray, ECG and other related facilities are available in the camp.
The Minister directed the concerned authorities to remain alert and ensure that the Yatris coming from various part of the county shall not face inconvenience.While interacting with the Yatris, the Minister assured that the Government will provide them all necessary facilities for making their Yatra comfortable.Later, the Minister visited village Kullan where the cloudburst damaged property including residential houses worth crores of rupees last week. He directed Executed Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Division to remain stationed at Kullan and prepare detailed project report to protect the village from such incidents in future.
Chief Engineer, PHE Mr. G M Bhat, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Mir Javed Jaffer, senior officers of civil administration besides President Auqaf Committee, Kullan, Mr. Nazir Ahmed Raina accompanied the Minister during the visit.