As administrative machinery has begun to move gradually, a clearer picture of loss of human lives and cattle besides the large scale damages to structures roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure are coming to light. Official teams are reaching the areas that have suffered huge damage and were rendered inaccessible owing to landslides and other obstructions. In particular, in the district of Udhampur, at least 13 dead bodies were recovered from the debris of the huge mud slide in a far off village Saddal in Panjar area. The picture of damages in entire district Udhampur is very grim. Though rescue and relief teams are operating in the affected area but it will take time to rehabilitate thousands of uprooted people. No fewer that 1232 houses have collapsed and 4700 houses have suffered major damages. 500 heads of cattle have been washed away by the floods.
Relief activities are going on and the teams are trying to reach all of those who have suffered terrible losses. The question of rehabilitating the families whose houses have been totally or partially damaged is a ticklish question. Authorities have decided that before these uprooted families are re-settled, it is important that the site of resettlement should first be cleared by Geological expert team who will asses whether or not these sites are vulnerable to serious geological upheavals. For this purpose Udhampur District administration has requisitioned the services of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun. It is an autonomous research institute of the Department of the Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The experts of the institute are required to identify safer locations which are not vulnerable to natural calamities like earthquakes, landslides, flood, etc. This is an appreciable step taken by the District administration. Actually, our reports are that the team of Geologists of the institute has already arrived and begun the survey. Once it focuses on the site, the next step would of raising structures and laying roads for the development of a habitat that is safe from the danger of landslide in future. District administration is also reported to be interested in involving the Department of Geology of Jammu University in the task of survey and selection of a suitable site. It is important in view of the fact that most of the area is hilly and only small patches of plain land are available.
Relief work has been taken in hand but it needs to be accelerated and rehabilitation of the uprooted families has to take place before the Winter sets in as it will be difficult for the affected families to find shelter in harsh Winter. The wards of those killed under the landslide should be provided full support including employment for a youth from among the surviving families so that they are able to sustain life. Likewise, loss of 500 cattle is going to adversely affect the sufferers because most of the rural population survives on cattle wealth. Loss of cattle in such large numbers will adversely affect agrarian activities of these families and they have to be provided means of restarting their agricultural pursuits. Much remains to be done in the entire District for the resettlement of flood ravaged families. The consolation is that District administrative has taken up relief and rehabilitation work in all earnestness and that is highly appreciable. It should be provided with sufficient funds to undertake the rehabilitation programme.
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