J&K floods: Rajnath Singh to undertake aerial survey tomorrow

New Delhi, Sept 5: Union Home Minister

will undertake an aerial survey of flood affected areas in

on Saturday to assess the situation there. Accompanied by Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh, the Home Minister will arrive in Srinagar in the morning and first hold a review meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and state government officials before going for the aerial survey in the affected districts, a Home Ministry official said.

After the survey, the Home Minister would arrive in Jammu, where he will meet representatives of the state government and take stock of the situation, following an aerial survey of flood affected areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts, he added. Flood situation has worsened in the last two days in Jammu and Kashmir where several rivers have been flowing above the danger mark and most parts of south Kashmir, including Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam district have been submerged.

The water level in Rambiara stream in Shopian district was also seen rising fast. Flood situation in Rajouri, Reasi and Udhampur districts continues to be grim. At least 46 people lost their lives so far due to floods in the state. The Home Minister would also be accompanied by Secretary (Border Management) Snehlata Kumar and Additional Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

MoS Jitendra Singh, who hails from the state, said he would hold talks with senior administrative officials and seek ways for early resumption of yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, which was temporarily suspended yesterday in view of heavy rains that lashed parts of the state. Government has rushed in eight teams of NDRF for rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Kashmir Valley.

Two units of NDRF have already reached Jammu while four units were air-lifted today from Bhatinda to Srinagar. Meanwhile, the Home Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on telephone and assured him of all possible help from the Centre.

PTI