Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday conducted a tour of flood-stricken areas in Jammu, assuring residents of the Central government's unwavering support for relief and rehabilitation efforts. Shah's visit comes in the wake of unprecedented monsoon rains that have battered the Jammu region, resulting in widespread devastation from cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides.

Upon arriving in Jammu on Sunday night, Shah immediately began assessing the extent of the damage and the ongoing relief operations. He was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Leader of Opposition in the J-K Assembly Sunil Sharma, and other senior officials. The Home Minister received a detailed briefing from Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and other senior officers.

Shah's itinerary included a visit to Mangu Chak, a village near Jammu Airport that was particularly hard-hit by the floods. He interacted directly with villagers, listening to their experiences and assuring them of comprehensive relief and rehabilitation measures. "The home minister visited my home and assured relief…there is nothing left in my house after last week's deluge," Bhan Singh, a resident of Mangu Chak, told PTI. Singh recounted the extensive damage to household goods, highlighting the severity of the flooding. Another resident, Chain Dass, expressed gratitude for the Home Minister's visit and hoped for measures to prevent future floods, also alleging that the construction of a circular road contributed to the flooding.

Shah also inspected the Tawi bridge near Bikram Chowk, assessing the damage along the riverbanks. He was briefed by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and other senior officers.

Following the on-site assessments, Shah chaired a series of high-level meetings at Raj Bhavan. These meetings were attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, and other key officials from both the Central government and the Union Territory administration. Discussions focused on the flood situation, relief efforts, and the damage to the border security grid.

Shah emphasized the Modi government's commitment to supporting the affected people. He announced that the government would provide prompt relief, financial assistance, and technical support to facilitate recovery and reconstruction. Shah also highlighted that ₹209 crore had already been allocated to Jammu & Kashmir under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Recognizing the need for improved disaster preparedness, Shah stressed the importance of strengthening early warning systems to mitigate the impact of future natural calamities. He called for a critical review of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Early Warning System and directed the Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to utilize data analytics and artificial intelligence to improve forecasting accuracy. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will incorporate data analytics and artificial intelligence to build stronger predictive tools.

Shah also announced that advanced survey teams from the MHA would assess the full extent of the damage, and further assistance would be provided. A meeting of relevant departments from the central and J&K governments would be held soon to coordinate relief efforts. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been directed to ensure additional ration supplies, and offline delivery will be considered after assessing connectivity in 10 days.

In addition to addressing the immediate crisis, Shah reiterated the Centre's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and instructed security agencies to remain alert and operate in a coordinated manner to eliminate terrorism in the union territory.

The Home Minister's visit underscores the Central government's commitment to standing with the people of Jammu and Kashmir during this challenging time. The focus remains on providing immediate relief, ensuring comprehensive rehabilitation, and building resilience against future natural disasters.