Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 24: Jammu region has not only suffered over 215 fatal casualties in devastating floods and rains but has also been left with 83,517 houses and other structures either collapsed or damaged with Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts bearing brunt of the damages in terms of property losses. As many as 2,64,739 families were affected due to floods, rains, landslides and submergence of villages in the region.
According to official estimates prepared by the divisional administration on the basis of reports submitted by the District Development Commissioners, as many as 83,517 houses and other structures have been damaged in 10 districts of Jammu region alone that included 1492 constructed (pucca) houses, which collapsed and were fully damaged while 6179 pucca houses, which were partially damaged.
Apart from this, 13,773 kucha houses have collapsed i.e. fully damaged while 44,916 kucha houses have been partially damaged. About 17050 cowsheds and 2232 other structures have perished in the worst ever floods and rains in Jammu region, the estimated prepared by the administration revealed.
While 2,24,093 families were affected due to floods, rains and landslides, 40646 families were hit by submergence of villages.
The figures could go up in some district as more reports of damages were pouring in.
Official sources told the Excelsior that if the State Government provides relief to the flood affected people as per the latest norms of State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), which were last revised on November 28, 2013, the people would get meager amount for heavy losses. As per the SDRF norms, the Government can pay only Rs 70,000 for fully damaged house in plain areas and Rs 75,000 in hilly areas, Rs 3800 for partially damaged pucca houses, Rs 17,600 for fully damaged kucha houses, Rs 2300 for partially damaged kucha house, Rs 3000 for kullahs and Rs 1500 per shed (cattle and other such structures).
The Government has, however, decided to relax the SDRF norms with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah taking up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Special Rehabilitation Package to compensate flood affected victims adequate so that they can construct or repair the houses properly.
The official data revealed that highest number of 79, 636 families were affected by floods, landslides and submergence of villages in Doda district, followed by 68,579 in Reasi, 34063 in Samba, 27,180 in Jammu, 1167 in Kathua, 9658 in Udhampur, 2824 in Reasi and 631 in Kishtwar.
The Government data revealed that Jammu district has topped all 10 districts in the damages caused by the floods to civilian property with 31068 houses and other structures damaged which included 230 pucca houses fully damaged, 3708 pucca houses partially damaged, 3363 kucha houses fully damaged and 15,949 kucha houses partially damaged. Apart from this, 6482 cow sheds and 1364 other structures have been damaged in the district. Officially, death toll in Jammu has been put at 10.
Twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch followed Jammu in the damages caused to civilian property. The highest number of 93 deaths (officially) have also been reported in Rajouri district, according to official figures. As many as 205 and 369 pucca houses have collapsed and partially damaged respectively in Rajouri district while 2843 and 5837 kucha houses have been fully or partially damaged respectively. As many as 4649 cattle sheds and 74 others structures have been damaged in the district. Total structures damaged in Rajouri district include 13977.
In Poonch district, 604 pucca and 1975 kucha houses have collapsed while 584 pucca and 4705 kucha houses have been partially damaged. In addition, 1752 cattle shed and 406 other structures have been damaged, totaling 10025 structures. Officially, death toll in Poonch district has been put at 27.
Reasi and Udhampur districts have also suffered extensive damage, as per the official estimates.
In Reasi district, where 20 people lost their lives officially, 42 pucca and 1857 kucha houses have collapsed while 127 pucca and 5140 kucha houses have been partially damaged. As many as 2245 cattle sheds and other structures have been damaged taking number of total damaged structures to 7166. In Udhampur, 7145 structures have been damaged, which included 25 pucca and 1510 kucha houses, which collapsed while 50 pucca and 5216 kucha houses partially damaged. Apart from this, 344 cattle sheds and other structures have been damaged. Officially, 35 lives have been lost in Udhampur district.
Though no death has been reported in Samba district, 57 pucca and 570 kucha houses have been fully damaged in the district while 327 pucca and 2160 kucha houses were partially damaged, Nearly 911 cattle sheds and 290 other structures were damaged, totaling 4315. In neighbouring Kathua district, where three lives have been lost officially, 21 pucca and 430 kucha houses have been fully damaged while 221 pucca and 1876 kucha houses were damaged. In addition to this, 223 cattle sheds and 26 other structures have also been damaged, totaling 2925.
In Ramban district, 2869 structures have collapsed while only one death has been reported officially. As many as 306 pucca and 982 kucha houses have collapsed while 370 pucca and 1094 kucha houses have been partially damaged. Forty-five cattle sheds and 72 other strictures have also been damaged.
Doda district has reported loss of 2219 structures with one death officially. No concrete house has collapsed in Doda while 21 such houses have been damaged. However, 179 kucha houses have collapsed and 1711 have been damaged. About 308 cattle sheds and other structures have also been damaged.
In Kishtwar district, where six deaths have been reported officially, two pucca and 64 kucha houses have collapsed while 402 pucca and 1228 kucha houses have been damaged. As many as 112 cattle sheds and other structures have also been damaged.
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