Unseasonal rains damage 106.73 lakh hectares of rabi crops

Jammu: Five persons were killed and six others injured in the recent rains and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government said today.

J&K Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari told this to the House while replying to a calling attention of National Conference member Qaiser Jamsheed Lone in the Legislative Council.

He said a total of 1,840 structures were damaged in the February-March rains, of which 236 were fully damaged, 346 severely and 859 partially besides 302 cow sheds and two religious structures.

Inter-departmental committees are verifying the damages, the minister said adding that ex-gratia relief as per State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms will be paid to the affected families on the completion of assessment.

During the Feb-March rains and snowfall, Rabi and Kharif crops in some pockets of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kupwara of Kashmir Division and Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Rajouri, Doda, Poonch, Udhampur, Ramban and Kishtwar of Jammu Division were damaged due to accumulation of water.