On May 1, three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban were rocked by an earthquake with epicentre somewhere ten miles below the surface of earth near Bhaderwah town. Almost entire Chenab Valley shook with tremors that are still to be felt. There were only a couple of casualties, but damages to shelters, homes, shops, cowsheds and other structures were massive. The Government machinery was galvanized into action and relief began to flow in as far as possible. Since tremors continued intermittently, people were scared to sleep outside their houses and the vast population had no choice but to sleep outside in open under the sky.
The State Government stationed three ministers at the affected district headquarters to monitor the relief work by utilizing State Disaster Relief Fund. But since this fund is very inadequate in comparison to the magnitude of the disaster, the State Government ordered its official teams to conduct comprehensive survey of overall damages. In just two weeks, the comprehensive and in-detail report was prepared. With this report in hand, the Chief Minister managed 45-minute meeting with the Prime Minister and placed before him the details of the damages done by the earthquake in three districts of Chenab Valley. Basing his demand for relief package for the affected people on the pattern of relief given by the Centre to the flash-flood affected people of Leh and Kargil in 2010, the CM asked for a relief package of 400 crore rupees in the case of Doda ‘quakes. In the case of Leh disaster 204 persons were killed and over 1,000 wounded. The PM had announced a package of 125 crore rupees to overcome the disaster in Leh. In the case of three districts of Chenab Valley, 47513 structures are reported to have been damaged fully or partially. Damage done to Government property is estimated to be about 89 crore rupees. The most affected are the school buildings.
In his meeting with the PM, Chief Minister made a strong plea that the centre adopts the same pattern of relief in the case under consideration as had been done in Ladakh. Under Leh package, the people whose houses were fully damaged were given Rs 2.5 lakh, while those whose houses were severely damaged had received Rs 1.5 lakh. The people with partially damaged houses were given Rs 1 lakh. The State Government’s report submitted to the Prime Minister by the Chief Minister has reportedly pointed out that under State Disaster Relief Fund, there was provision of only Rs 35,000 worth compensation for fully damaged pucca house and Rs 15,000 for fully damaged kucha houses, Rs 6300 for severely damaged pucca house and Rs 3200 for severely damaged kucha house, Rs 1900 for partially damaged pucca and kucha houses and Rs 1250 for damaged cattle shed. However, by no means, this compensation could heal the wounds of earthquake victims as it was too meagre to repair the damaged houses and property. The Chief Minister stressed to the Prime Minister for early release of special Central package to help the earthquake victims. The Prime Minister has assured the Chief Minister that he would do the needful in the case. We are hopeful that the PMO will not take a long time to act on the request of the Chief Minister and that liberal relief will be sanctioned to overcome the disaster.
Whether the Leh pattern of relief is applicable to the Doda region ‘quake sufferers or not is what the PMO has to decide. But we will certainly take into account that the speed with which reconstruction of damage in Leh that happened in 2010 should have been undertaken has not come up to our expectations. A number of hurdles were created in expeditious relief work in Leh in post-disaster period so much so that even today it is not fully implemented. Sanctioning a hefty package of relief will take its course without hassle, but the question is of delivery in full and in time. They cannot wait to be left to their fate and spend the coming rainy days in open under the sky.
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