Jammu schools damaged by heavy rains to remain locked

Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar has directed all deputy commissioners to ensure that school buildings found unsafe or damaged due to recent rains are immediately locked and kept out of use until necessary repairs are completed, an official spokesman said on Sunday. All chief agriculture officers have also been directed to assess the crop damage suffered by farmers in the affected areas and submit a report at the earliest for extending due assistance, the spokesman said. The directions were issued during a review meeting chaired by the divisional commissioner to assess the damage caused by recent heavy rains across all districts of the Jammu division. The meeting also reviewed the progress of restoration works, relief measures, and the overall response of the district administrations, the spokesman said.

Emphasising that student safety must remain paramount, the divisional commissioner instructed the authorities to identify vulnerable school buildings without delay and prevent their use until they are declared structurally safe after repairs. Kumar directed the Managing Director of Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited to ensure that all restoration works pertaining to damaged power infrastructure are completed on a priority basis so that supply to affected areas is normalised at the earliest.

Reviewing the pace of relief operations, he took stock of the ex-gratia disbursement to affected families across all districts and directed deputy commissioners to expedite the process so that no eligible beneficiary is left out. At least 27 people lost their lives and six others remain missing in rain-related incidents in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Ramban districts since July 19.