KARGIL: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Dr. Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon on Monday directed the immediate restoration of drinking water supply, irrigation infrastructure, road connectivity and other essential public services after conducting an extensive ground assessment of flash flood-affected villages across Sankoo Sub-Division. He also ordered a comprehensive damage survey to facilitate compensation for affected families under government norms.
The CEC visited Stangkung, Karchekhar, Strakburik, Thasgam, Lalung, Sangrah, Sankoo, Khalaparpoo, Batakhar and Chumikchan, where he reviewed the widespread impact of the recent flash floods. The inspection covered damage to residential houses, agricultural land, irrigation canals, drinking water supply schemes, roads, electricity infrastructure, livestock, communication networks and other public assets.
Accompanied by Executive Councillor Altaf Hussain, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil Shabbir Hussain, SDM Sankoo Wasim Ramazan Dar, Councillors Syed Aga Ahmed and Ghulam Haider, Executive Engineers of the Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control, and Roads and Buildings departments, officials of NHIDCL and other district officers, Dr. Akhoon reviewed the status of relief and restoration works underway in the affected villages.
Taking serious note of the disruption in potable water supply, the CEC instructed the Public Health Engineering Department to restore damaged water supply schemes on priority. He directed that water tankers be deployed immediately in villages where restoration may take time, ensuring that residents continue to receive uninterrupted drinking water until normal services resume.
Recognising the vulnerability of the farming community during the ongoing crop season, Dr. Akhoon instructed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to restore damaged irrigation canals without delay so that irrigation to agricultural fields is resumed at the earliest, preventing further losses to cultivators.
The CEC also instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sankoo, to undertake a detailed assessment of losses sustained by residential properties, agricultural land, orchards, irrigation infrastructure and livestock. He said the survey should be completed promptly to enable eligible families to receive compensation in accordance with the prescribed government guidelines.
During his visit to Batakhar and Chumikchan, where several cattle were reportedly washed away in the flash floods, Dr. Akhoon directed the Animal Husbandry Department to complete all procedural formalities for the early release of compensation to livestock owners.
He further instructed NHIDCL, the Roads and Buildings Department and other executing agencies to accelerate debris clearance operations and restore damaged roads, link roads and public infrastructure to improve connectivity and facilitate the movement of relief teams and essential supplies.
Interacting with affected residents, the CEC assured them that the LAHDC Kargil and the district administration would continue to support every affected household until normalcy is restored. He also said the matter of extending special relief assistance to the affected villages would be taken up with the competent authorities.
Dr. Akhoon also acknowledged the role played by Basij-e-Imam, Anjuman-e-Sahib-e-Zaman, Al Mehdi Scout Team, local volunteers, youth groups and members of civil society, stating that their timely intervention and coordinated efforts strengthened the administration’s rescue and relief operations during the emergency.
Calling for a coordinated response from all line departments, the CEC emphasised that restoration of essential services, rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and timely disbursement of relief and compensation should remain the immediate priority to enable affected communities to recover from the impact of the flash floods.
