SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review winter preparedness across Jammu and Kashmir, directing departments and agencies to ensure coordinated and timely arrangements to minimise public inconvenience during the winter months.
Emphasising interdepartmental coordination, the Chief Minister called for a synchronised mechanism for snow clearance, particularly on roads maintained by different departments and agencies. He stressed that clear responsibilities among the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, Mechanical Engineering Department, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), PMGSY and other agencies were essential for restoring road connectivity promptly during snowfall.
He directed the designation of nodal officers to coordinate snow clearance operations and ensure that no road remained unattended due to a lack of coordination. He also stressed advance planning, timely deployment of manpower and machinery, and effective monitoring in areas prone to heavy snowfall and prolonged disruption.
Reviewing the power supply situation, Omar Abdullah directed the Power Development Department and distribution companies to strictly implement notified power curtailment schedules.
He said that while technical faults and other unavoidable circumstances could lead to additional interruptions, consumers must be informed promptly about such disruptions, including their expected duration wherever possible.
The Chief Minister made it clear that field staff must not impose additional or unscheduled power cuts at their own discretion. Any deviation from notified schedules, he said, must be authorised at the appropriate level, with consumers informed through suitable communication channels.
He also called for effective monitoring and accountability to ensure uniform implementation of power supply schedules across the affected areas.
During the meeting, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Anshul Garg and Vikas Kundal, respectively, presented detailed winter preparedness plans for their divisions.
The presentations covered snow clearance, advance stocking of ration, LPG and other essential commodities, maintenance of electricity and drinking water supplies, and the availability of healthcare services during heavy snowfall.
Particular emphasis was placed on emergency medical arrangements in areas that frequently remain cut off during winter. These included the availability of four-wheel-drive ambulances, helicopter services wherever required, and the tracking of maternity cases involving women who may need urgent medical assistance during prolonged snowfall.
The Chief Minister stressed that vulnerable populations must be identified in advance and appropriate arrangements put in place to ensure that no patient is denied emergency medical care because of adverse weather conditions.
Gurez, Machhil and Karnah, along with parts of Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua, were among the areas for which specific preparedness measures were reviewed due to their vulnerability to heavy snowfall and road connectivity disruptions.
Omar Abdullah directed all departments to maintain close coordination with district administrations and ensure that contingency plans were ready to respond promptly to weather-related emergencies. He also underlined the importance of effective communication between field staff and district authorities to address emerging challenges without delay.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary; Ministers Javed Rana and Satish Sharma; Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; senior officers of various departments; all Deputy Commissioners; senior police officers; managing directors of the Jammu and Kashmir DISCOMs; heads of departments and other concerned officials.
Officers stationed outside Srinagar participated through video conferencing.
