Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Sep 9: Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) deputed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are currently visiting parts of Kashmir to assess damages caused by recent floods and landslides, officials said on Tuesday.
The teams are conducting field inspections, reviewing relief measures on the ground, and preparing detailed assessment reports.
Based on these reports, a relief package is expected to follow, the team said.
According to officials, the IMCTs arrived in Jammu on September 3 to carry out a ground assessment before moving to Kashmir. Their visit comes after heavy rains since early August have led to widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure losses in several districts.
Figures shared by authorities show that more than 150 people have died in rain-related incidents across the Union Territory, including casualties among yatris and local residents.
Search and rescue operations are still underway in some remote areas.
The Centre constituted the IMCTs on September 1 to examine the impact of floods and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab.
Each team is headed by a Joint Secretary-level officer from the MHA or the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and includes representatives from the ministries of agriculture and farmers’ welfare, expenditure, Jal Shakti, power, rural development, and road transport and highways.
“The teams are mandated to assess the damages and review the relief operations initiated by the administration,” an MHA official said. “Their reports will guide the central government in deciding the scale of assistance.”
The officials said that the mechanism was put in place in 2019 by Home Minister Amit Shah, who directed that central teams must reach disaster-hit areas at the earliest, rather than waiting for formal memorandums from state governments.
In Kashmir, the IMCTs have so far visited flood-affected villages, interacted with district officials, and inspected damaged public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and water supply schemes. “We are taking note of immediate needs as well as long-term restoration requirements,” one team member said.
A senior officer said that the local government is extending full cooperation. “The team’s visit will help in aligning state-level assessments with central support,” the officer said.
The reports prepared by the IMCTs are expected to form the basis for additional financial support and mitigation measures from the Centre.
Officials said the teams will conclude their fieldwork shortly and submit findings to the Union Home Ministry for further action.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Jammu on September 1 and 2 to review the situation following heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides in the region. During his visit, he met families affected by floods in Mangu Chak village and inspected damaged sites, including the Tawi Bridge at Bikram Chowk, the Shiv Temple, and several residential areas.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 209 crore to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to support relief and recovery measures.
