Relief to arms depot victims would be given priority: Azad

Srinagar, Aug 26 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said efforts were on to clear live ammunition and unexploded material from the affected areas in Khandroo and assured the affected people that shelter would be provided till their houses were rebuilt.

The houses which were partilly damaged in the August 11 arms depot inferno would be repaired before the onset of winter while food and shelter would be provided to families whose houses were fully damaged till their houses were reconstructed, the Chief Minister assured a deputation of fire victims of Khandroo area which called on him yesterday.

The Chief Minister said according to preliminary estimates about 20 per cent residential houses in 13 affected villages were completely damaged while 20 per cent partially damaged and immediate measures would be taken to provide relief measures.

He told the victims, who apprised him of the difficulties faced by them following the incident, that assessment report regarding payment of compensation to the affected people would be sent to the Central Government.

The Chief Minister said efforts were also on to clear live ammunition and unexploded material from the affected areas.

He said expert teams of army engineers had cleared live ammunition from 11 affected villages while the remaining two would be cleared soon.

Another expert team has been called from Delhi to clear unexploded ammunition from orchards, paddy and maize fields. This might take two to three months, he said, adding losses to crop and horticulture would be adequately compensated.

The victims' deputation, led by Gulzar Ahmad, also thanked Mr Azad for the immediate response of the administration in evacuation, relief and rehabilitation of the affected people.

Villagers from Pahloo, Sumbran and Nogam that bore the brunt of the explosions requested Mr Azad to rehabilitate them at some other place. The Chief Minister assured them that the demand would be looked into.

He told the deputation that he would visit the affected villages early next week to take stock of the situation.

In the evening, a deputation from Shangus, led by local MLA and Minister of State for Health and Power Peer Muhammad Hussain, also met the Chief Minister and briefed him about the problems faced by people due to the incident.

The Chief Minister assured that the points raised by the deputation would be favorably considered.

UNI