Govt's prime concern is to restore highway, compensate affected: Omar

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the prime concern of his government was to restore the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH-44) at the earliest and assess the widespread damage for compensation to the affected people.

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU:

Omar was in Kela Morh, a few kilometres from the Ramban district headquarters along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Omar said, "Our prime concern is to restore the highway at the earliest and assess the losses for compensation to the affected people."

He, however, hastened to call it a "national disaster." "It is not a national disaster...it is a localized one," he responded to a question. He said the district administration had been directed to assess the damage and submit a detailed report.

The chief minister also said that the vehicle buried under the debris will have to be retrieved and those damaged fully have to be condemned and remaining, which can be driven again, shall have to be repaired.

"At the same time, we may need to re-align the affected stretch of the highway," he said.