Divisional Commissioner Ladakh, Saugat Biswas visited several flood-hit areas of Kargil including Kargil town, Khawos, Sangrah, and Stakpa on July 28 and took stock of the situation and damages caused by flash floods besides measures being taken by the administration for relief and rehabilitation.

Divisional Commissioner conducted an extensive tour of flood-affected villages and took first-hand appraisal of the situation, extent of damages, and ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected families. He also took stock of damages to irrigation land, canals, and khuls, standing crops, trees, roads, and residential houses. 

The concerned officers were asked to speed up the process of assessment of damages in coordination with PRI members and ensure the preparation of the restoration plan at the earliest.

At Brigade Bagh, Titi Chumik, and Baroo-Sokh areas, Saugat Biswas took an assessment of debris clearance works and directed to clear debris at the earliest and extend all support to flood-affected families. He further directed to make the National Highway functional at the earliest. At Sangrah, he took an assessment of the damage caused due the flash flood and visited damaged houses and agriculture fields that have come under debris.

To make motorable activity without hindrance, the Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned officers to send a request to NIT Srinagar to engage a structural engineer to check the certification of the Sangrah Bridge.

He inquired from the officers about the status of the progress of works about the excavation and trailing of Sangrah Nallah and damage assessment works related to the Revenue Department and directed to do the allotted works at the earliest.

Divisional Commissioner also visited Khawos village where he took stock of the loss of agriculture and other infrastructural assets.

He directed to do the trailing and excavation of Nallah and the rebuilding and restoration of the village school building at the earliest. Further, he directed to prepare a DPR for all the recurring components about flood restoration works including Khaus and Sangrah Nallah.

At Khaus, the Divisional Commissioner also took an assessment of Rural Development works as well. He also interacted with the dislocated families of last year’s flash flood and enquired about the status of works on new houses.

The family members extended gratitude to the UT Administration for extending necessary support for the reconstruction of their houses.

At Stakpa village, Div Com was informed about the status of the excavation and trailing works. It was informed that DPR regarding the trailing of Nallah has already been drafted. Moreover, the villagers demanded that 40 affected families must be relocated to a safer place. They also demanded protection walls and nallah trailing.

The Divisional Commissioner was also informed that machines of the Mechanical Division are on the ground to remove the debris and boulders from Khaus village. He added that excavation works are going on war footing across all flood-affected areas of the district.

Deputy Commissioner and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve; SSP Kargil Anayat Ali Chowdhury; Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Superintending Engineer I&FC, Superintending Engineer R&B, SDM Kargil and Sankoo besides senior district officers and engineers of various engineering wings accompanied the Divisional Commissioner during the tour.