Concern departments immediately clear roads due to land-sliding or heavy snowfall. CS AJK

MUZAFFARABAD, (Parliament Times): A meeting presided over by Chief Secretary AJK Mathar Niaz Rana on Monday reviewed the latest situation arising out after heavy rains and snowfall in various parts of the state.
The meeting reviewed the status of road networks, availability of the foodstuff and medical staff in the rains and snowfall affected areas of the state. The Chief Secretary directed the concerned department to immediately clear the roads closed due to land-sliding or heavy snowfall for the smooth rescue and relief operation in the affected areas.
SDMA has been directed to immediately activate its Control Room for the effective coordination between Police, Works and other line departments. Mathar Niaz Rana also directed the Health Department to ensure availability of sufficient medicine stock, doctors and paramedics in affected areas of AJK.
Deputy Commissioners have been directed to immediately arrange temporary shelters on the roads closed by the rains or snowfall so that travelers could stay there till clearance of roads. They are also directed to identify those areas for the temporary shelters where there is fear of the road blockade. Food Department has been directed to ensure proper food stock in the far-flung and remote areas of the state so that in-case of road inaccessibility there should be no food shortage in these areas.  Earlier, Secretary SDMA Shahid Mohy-ud-Din Qadri briefed the meeting that State Emergency Operation Center has been setup to effectively deal with the emergent situation. Center would be function under the supervision of Director Operations round the clock. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana directed the concerned officials to accelerate the rescue and relief operation in the rains, snow hit areas of the state. He said all available resources would be mobilized to minimize the sufferings of the affectees. All the secretaries and heads of the relevant departments attended the meeting.