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.
