Gadkari discusses road restoration with Omar Abdullah

Union Surface Transport and Road and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari Monday took stock of the situation in the aftermath of devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir and discussed measures to restore connectivity in affected areas with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Gadkari, who met Abdullah here, discussed the prevailing aftermath of devastating floods in the state which besides claiming precious human lives, severely damaged infrastructure, private property, residential houses, livestock and standing crops.

"Measures to be intensified and other initiatives required to be taken for reaching out to all the affected families and putting back life on tracks, were discussed in detail in the meeting," a state government official said after the meeting.

He said Abdullah gave a resume of the efforts of the state government for providing necessary succour to the flood-affected and putting in place measures on a war-footing for relief and rehabilitation besides making health institutions functional, providing ration and other essentials to the people and dewatering of water-logged areas particularly in Srinagar city.

The chief minister "sought a liberal and extraordinary package from the central government for rehabilitation of flood affected and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and private property including residential houses", he said.

A special package for the traders and business community and horticulturists, farmers and others who incurred huge losses due to flood and torrential rains was also sought.

Gadkari arrived here along with Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, who is an MP from the state, to discuss immediate steps needed to restore various roads and other surface links so that relief reached affected areas without any delay.