Omar Abdullah visits areas affected by Pakistani shelling

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday visited areas hit by Pakistani shelling to express solidarity with affected families and to supervise relief arrangements there.

The chief minister held meetings with divisional and district officers at Jammu, Samba and Hiranagar. He was briefed on the situation that has arisen due to unabated shelling from across the international border and the Line of Control in the Jammu division.

He ascertained the status of services provided by the state government to the affected families like free food, shelter, drinking water, medical facilities, bedding and other related facilities at the relief camps.

He interacted with the people in the camps and asked them about the quality and nature of services being provided to them.

The chief minister while expressing solidarity with the people expressed grief at the loss of innocent human lives in the shelling from Pakistan. He also prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

The people in the camps brought to his notice various issues confronting them which included the safety of cattle and property they left behind.

Abdullah said the state government would do whatever possible to safeguard the lives of the people and said instructions have been issued to the divisional authorities to take all measures to provide necessary succour to the affected people.

He said he has also given orders to establish temporary camps for cattle and arrange fodder and medical care for them.

He said the police have been asked to safeguard the property of the migrants.

The divisional officers have been directed to identify more places to set up temporary shelters for the people migrating from the border areas, the chief minister said, adding that medical facilities, sanitation, drinking water and power supply to the camps will be ensured.

Abdullah visited camps at Kuta, Navnat, Chichi Mata, Devli, Salad, Hiranagar, Samba and Bishnah.