Over 2 lakh structures damaged in floods: JK govt tells HC

The Jammu and Kashmir government today said more than two lakh structures were damaged, which included 20,000 houses totally destroyed, in the worst floods in the state in more than a century.
"Approximately 2,34,516 structures have been damaged, which includes nearly 20,000 completely damaged houses, in the valley excluding district Srinagar.
"The damages to other houses and structures will be known only when the submerged areas are fully dewatered," the state government told the High Court.
It was replying to a PIL, filed by two advocates, which alleged the state government did not provide timely relief to the flood-affected people.

Denying the allegation, the government said it had established 224 relief camps across the state including 137 in Kashmir Valley.
"137 relief camps catering to more than one lakh people in Kashmir Valley and 87 in Jammu division were set up.
"Most of these relief camps have been wound up with the improvement in the flood situation and return of the affected people to their own houses," the government said.
It said an amount of Rs 430 crore -- Rs 215 crore each for Jammu and Valley regions -- was kept the at the disposal of respective Divisional Commissioners for meeting exigencies like ex gratia relief and rehabilitation.