Warwan, Sept 23: Normal life is gradually returning to Kishtwar’s Marwah and Warwan subdivisions after recent torrential rains. But in Margi village, which bore the brunt of a devastating cloudburst and flash floods on August 26, misery still looms large as winter approaches.

Despite efforts by the district administration, NGOs from Kishtwar, Doda, Jammu, and local volunteers, the scale of destruction in Margi remains overwhelming, with hundreds of families still awaiting meaningful relief.

According to official , the floods damaged 224 residential houses—50 completely destroyed, 130 severely damaged, and 44 partially affected. At least 45 cattle perished, while shops, watermills, and the Jamia Masjid Margi also sustained heavy losses. Villagers, however, put the number of affected families closer to 400, significantly higher than the administration’s assessment.

For this remote and poverty-stricken village, the disaster has been crippling. Families have lost homes, belongings, and livestock, and now depend largely on government rations and charitable aid. Kishtwar and Doda based NGOs including Tariq Memorial Charitable Foundation, Ababeel, and Hilal Healthcare Societies are providing food, blankets, and other essentials to supplement district Adminstrations assistance.

This is not the first tragedy Margi has faced. Nearly 17 years ago, a massive fire reduced most of the village to ashes. Residents say the fresh calamity has pushed them into even deeper hardship.

Villagers allege that compensation ranging between Rs 1.35 lakh and Rs 1.38 lakh per household is being given unfairly to only one head of each damaged house, despite many homes sheltering multiple families. Those with partial damages, they add, remain excluded. “Despite assurances, debris clearance by machinery has not begun. Families are manually removing several feet of mud from their homes,” one local told Greater Kashmir. Another resident said at least 46 dead cattle have been recovered, with dozens still buried.

Several political leaders, including MLA Inderwal Pyare Lal Sharma, BJP leader and LoP Sunil Sharma, former minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, DDC councillor Sheikh Zaffarullah, former minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, and NC district vice president Ghulam Rasool Magray, have visited the area. Villagers, however, continue to await a visit from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his cabinet ministers.

Officials said a final assessment of damages across Kishtwar is underway, with the revenue and agriculture departments preparing detailed estimates. “Relief and rehabilitation will follow government norms,” a senior officer said.

NC leader Haji Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mehru informed that MLA Pyare Lal Sharma has released ₹30 lakh from his Constituency Development Fund for immediate relief, while also submitting a ₹33 lakh proposal for debris clearance. Additionally, Sharma has proposed a ₹4.5 crore project to build protective bunds and retaining walls along the Shailansar stream to prevent future disasters. Former minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo has also donated ₹2 lakh for relief and ₹1 lakh for repairs to the Jamia Masjid Margi.

With harsh winter fast approaching, residents of Margi fear their resilience will be stretched to the limit unless long-term rehabilitation measures are expedited.

Srinagar, Sept 23: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir was effectively being run by “two governments,” one elected by the people and another imposed on them, as he criticised the opposition for what he described as selective attacks on the National Conference.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Choudhary accused the leader of the opposition of always targeting the National Conference despite having held a ministerial position during the BJP-PDP alliance. “He was a minister during the BJP-PDP rule and did nothing for the people. Now he keeps blaming the National Conference. This is hypocrisy,” Choudhary remarked.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that his party needed a free hand to govern and fulfil promises made to the people. “Give us a free hand and then see where we will take Jammu and Kashmir. We are committed to our manifesto and will implement every promise we have made,” he said.

Choudhary reiterated his hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would honour commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including the restoration of full statehood. He also appealed for a comprehensive financial package to address the devastation caused by recent floods and the recurring blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. “We still hope the Prime Minister will keep his promise and restore the status of statehood. We also expect a mega flood package to help rebuild lives after the damages suffered due to floods and highway disruptions,” he told reporters.

The Deputy CM as per the news agency Kashmri News Trust also launched a direct attack on the BJP and PDP, saying the two parties had long maintained a “setting” that benefitted them politically but hurt ordinary people. “BJP and PDP are like brothers. They fooled the people in the past, but now they cannot befool the public anymore. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have seen a decade of hardships and they know who is responsible,” he said.

He appealed to the media to understand the challenges faced by the government and report with sensitivity. “We are working in difficult circumstances. The media should understand the environment in which we are running this government,” Choudhary added.

Earlier, the Deputy CM visited Boulevard Road at Nehru Park in Srinagar to review the ongoing road-widening project. He was accompanied by Advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasr Islam Wani, and senior officials of the Roads and Buildings Department. During the inspection, Choudhary assessed the progress of the four-lane road project and directed officials to expedite the pace of work to ensure timely completion.

“The Boulevard is one of Srinagar’s most iconic stretches. The widened road will improve traffic flow, enhance the tourist experience, and provide better facilities to the public,” Choudhary said. He announced that the project would be inaugurated on October 17, adding that the government was determined to finish the work within the deadline.

Officials briefed the Deputy CM about the various stages of the project and assured him that necessary resources were being mobilised to speed up construction. Choudhary urged them to maintain quality standards while working under tight schedules. [KNT]

Srinagar, Sep 23: The cabinet on Wednesday recommended to the Lieutenant Governor that the Assembly be summoned on October 13.

Sources said that the cabinet meeting, which began this morning, was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by all ministers.

During the meeting, the cabinet decided to recommend to the LG that the Assembly be convened on October 13.

“The session is likely to be brief and may span seven days, from October 13 to 20,” sources disclosed.

As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, there must not be a gap longer than six months between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next.

“The Lieutenant Governor shall, from time to time, summon the Legislative Assembly to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session,” reads the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Since the last sitting of the previous session was held on April 29, and given the rule that no more than six months should pass between sessions, the next session must be held by October 28.

The issues of statehood and reservation are expected to dominate proceedings in the House.

In the last Assembly session, three resolutions on statehood lapsed due to disruptions caused by the National Conference, following the rejection of an adjournment motion brought by its legislators on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The issue of reservation also surfaced repeatedly during discussions in the House, with PC President and MLA from Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, strongly criticizing the government over the matter—(KNO)