Heavy rain, snowfall on October 23-24 declared ‘state specific calamity’

JAMMU — In a major relief to the farmers affected by recent inclement weather on October 23 and 24, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared heavy spell of rain and snowfall as state specific natural disaster under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms.

As per an order, a copy of which lies with Kashmir News Service (KNS), issued by Secretary Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Construction, Nazim Zai Khan stated that a total of nine districts – six in Jammu and three in Kashmir – would be covered under the ‘state specific calamity’ for the purpose of providing relief to the affected families and departments from SDRF.

“Sanction is hereby accorded to declare the spell of heavy rain and heavy snowfall during the period of 23rd and 24th of October, 2021 as ‘state specific calamity’ in-terms of para 3(ii) of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for purpose of providing relief to the affected families and departments from SDRF,” read the order.

It stated that Jammu, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Reasi, Samba and Kathua in Jammu division and Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts in Kashmir division would be covered under the declaration.

Notably, heavy rains accompanied by hailstorm lashed wide parts of Jammu division on October 23, causing massive damage to standing crops while orchardists in south Kashmir districts suffered immense crop loss due to untimely snowfall.

Earlier, on October 28, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while inaugurating Apple Festival 2021 at SKICC had announced that recent heavy rain, hailstorm and snowfall affecting the crops were declared as “natural calamity and UT-specific disaster”.

He had also stated that government would provide relief to all the farmers who suffered damages on this account.