Excelsior Correspondent
PADDER (KISHTWAR), Feb 17 : Minister of State for Industries and Commerce and Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, in presence of Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, today flew to Gulabgarh, in Padder, and distributed cheques worth Rs. 25,000 each among victims of fire that engulfed 24 houses in Tun village, near Atholi and left 32 families homeless in wee hours of February 12.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Mohammad Saleem & SSP Kishtwar B. S. Tuti were also present on the occasion.
On the instructions of the Minister, all the families have been evacuated from Tun village by the District Administration and lodged at Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Society Hostel at Gulabgarh.
Kichloo and Gurezi met all the affected families personally and distributed cheques worth Rs. 15,000 each under IAY Up-gradation Scheme for houses and Rs. 10,000 each as cash assistance.
The Minister heard the problems being faced by the people and asked the DC to immediately take corrective measures. “The Chief Minister has assured that the victims will be provided relief under CM’s Relief Fund. Further Rs. 25,000 each would be provided to the affected families for their immediate rehabilitation,” he added.
The Minister also inspected the Community Kitchen at the hostel and asked the District Administration to provide quality food to the victims.
The Government had announced two-month free ration, Rs. 10,000 interim relief and Rs. 15,000 under IAY in favour of those whose houses had been damaged in the fire that engulfed the village bordering Himachal Pradesh on February 12. The Divisional Administration has also provided 4 blankets and folding mattresses, and one sleeping bag each to the victim families. Some of the blankets and warm clothing were airdropped on the day of the fire as the chopper could not land due to bad weather.
The Minister also announced 150 solar lights each for 5 Panchayats of Padder tehsil that include Gulabgarh, Atholi, Afani, Jarh and Kundal. He also assured the people that work on Gulabgarh-Machail, Ishtyari-Tun and Gulabgarh-Lijri roads will be soon taken up for better connectivity to the remote area.
Speaking on the occasion, Gurezi said he has issued instructions to Director Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Jammu, to extend all possible facilities for protection of their livestock.
Later, the Ministers visited District Hospital Kishtwar and interacted with the patients. They also made spot visit near New Era Public School where two shops and a shed were burnt in an overnight fire. The Minister announced Rs. 10,000 each to those whose shops have been burned in the fire.
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