GANDERBAL, DECEMBER 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level video conference meeting to assess the ongoing snow clearance operations and the restoration of essential services following heavy snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, held at the video conference hall in Ganderbal, was attended in person by Advisor to the CM, Nasir Aslam Wani, Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal, Shyambir, ADC Ganderbal, and other senior district officials. Key government leaders including the Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, and Deputy Commissioners from all districts participated remotely.
The heavy snowfall, which began yesterday, has caused significant disruption to daily life across many districts of the Kashmir Valley. In response, the Chief Minister directed a focused review of the ongoing efforts to clear roads, restore power, and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioners from various districts provided updates on snow clearance, power restoration, water supply, and emergency response efforts. CM Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of swift, proactive action and instructed officials to deploy sufficient manpower and machinery to clear roads efficiently. He also urged them to take photographic evidence of cleared areas to ensure thorough snow removal and to prevent ice build-up as temperatures dropped.
The Chief Minister called for regular updates on progress, instructing the district administrations to report every two hours to both the CM’s office and the Chief Secretary’s office. This will allow the government to stay fully informed and take immediate action where needed.
The Chief Engineer of Public Health Engineering informed the meeting that 90% of the water supply in the valley had been restored, with efforts underway to address the remaining 10%. The Divisional Commissioner of Jammu confirmed that both power and water supply in the Jammu region remained unaffected, while the Chief Secretary reassured that electricity feeders were steadily being restored across affected areas. He also confirmed that district hospitals were functioning smoothly and providing essential services.
In addition to the recovery efforts, CM Abdullah stressed the importance of ensuring full attendance of doctors and paramedical staff at all district and sub-district hospitals to manage emergencies effectively. Special instructions were issued to the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam to coordinate with airport authorities to assist stranded tourists and provide transportation if necessary.
The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir also assured that adequate stocks of essential commodities, including food and civil supplies, were available across all districts to meet the needs of the public during the ongoing snowfall.
Commending the efforts of the district administrations, the Chief Minister urged all officials to remain vigilant, proactive, and responsive during this challenging period. He stressed the need for seamless coordination between various agencies to ensure the restoration of essential services and mitigate the impact of the snowfall on the public.