J-K rains: 221 families shifted to safer places in Budgam

Jammu and Kashmir government has evacuated 221 families to safer places due to heavy rains causing soil erosion and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Budgam district of the state.

State Agriculture Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today told the Assembly that due to the continuous downpour various areas of Budgam have been affected by way of land erosion and landslides and 221 families have been shifted to safer areas.

Replying to apprehensions expressed by NC member Mian Altaf Ahmed about flood threat looming large, due to landslides in Budgam, Hanjura said the district administration has taken immediate steps to evacuate the affected families where the residential houses were affected or likely to be affected by the land erosion and landslides to avoid any loss of life.

He said the families have been lodged in tents provided by the district administration and in some cases the affected families were shifted to nearby schools and other government buildings.

The minister said 221 families of Chillan Chotinar, Tilsara, Charar-e-Sharief, Nilnag Nagam, Watkloo, Ladden, Bringan, Nego, Hangoo Suresyar, Kumar Mohalla Nagam, Freswar Khansahib, Shalinar Khansahib, Kristwar Chadoora, Suresyar and Branwar villages evacuated.

Out of these, 99 families have been provided with tents, 58 families have been shifted to government buildings and 64 families have been shifted to their relatives, he said.