Srinagar, Nov 03 (KINS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of new houses for families affected by the devastating floods in Chishoti, Paddar, Kishtwar district.
A total of 19 houses that were completely damaged during the natural disaster will be rebuilt free of cost with the support of the High-Range Rural Development Society (HRDS India), a civil society organization.
Paying homage to those who lost their lives in the tragedy, the Lieutenant Governor said, “The catastrophic floods swept away precious lives, homes, and vital infrastructure. I am hopeful that the three-bedroom pre-fabricated smart houses for which the foundation stone was laid today will help bring the lives of the affected families back on track.”
Appreciating HRDS India for its humanitarian efforts, the LG said, “Since SDRF relief is insufficient, I had earlier requested HRDS India to rebuild 1,500 fully damaged houses across the UT under Operation Sindoor in the aftermath of the August floods, to which they had agreed. This initiative will provide huge relief to the affected families.”
Each house will be constructed with a concrete foundation and prefabricated technology, using fiber cement boards, powder-coated GI sheets, and steel structural frameworks designed to endure harsh weather conditions. The homes will be developed as “Smart Houses,” integrating modern design, comfort, and safety features.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to all emergency responders, including the Army, NDRF, SDRF, Police, district administration, local community, and volunteers, for their tireless efforts in rescuing flood victims and evacuating Machail Mata devotees to safety.
“I must commend the resilience of the people of Chishoti. Nature has tested them severely, but this strong community met the challenge head-on,” the LG said.
Reaffirming his commitment to complete rehabilitation under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the LG announced several new developmental initiatives for Paddar:
An Army Goodwill School and a Petrol Pump sanctioned by the Government of India.
BRO to reconstruct the Atholi–Machail Mata Road and build a new bridge in Chishoti.
BSNL to set up new 4G towers in identified mobile black spots.
During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor interacted with local residents, assured redressal of their grievances, and directed the district administration to connect local youth with self-employment schemes under Mission Yuva.
He further informed that the augmentation of facilities for Machail Mata pilgrims will be completed by May 2026, and assured that steps will be taken to construct a Yatri Niwas at Paddar.
A two-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in the August 14, 2025, Chishoti floods.
The event was attended by Leader of Opposition and MLA Paddar–Nagseni Sunil Sharma, MLA Kishtwar Shagun Parihar, Shrimath Swami Atma Nambi, President HRDS India; Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the LG; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Shridhar Patil, DIG DKR Range; Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar; Aji Krishnan, Founder–Secretary HRDS India; along with senior officials, prominent citizens, and members of the local community.(KINS)
