27/03/2025
Minister Javed Ahmad Visits Fire-Affected Families in Old Town Baramulla, Assures Timely Relief & Rehabilitation
Baramulla, March 27: Minister for Agricultural Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Elections, Javed Ahmad, today visited Old Town Baramulla to take stock of the situation following a devastating fire incident that occurred on the night of March 23. The fire resulted in the destruction of 17 houses, leaving 29 families homeless.
The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, and other senior officers from the district administration.
Duirng his visit, Minister Javed Ahmad inspected the site of the incident and personally interacted with the affected families to understand their grievances and immediate needs.
The residents and local committee members shared their concerns with the Minister and requested immediate rehabilitation, the establishment of a permanent Fire & Emergency Services station in the area, and a waiver of electricity and water charges for one year to ease their financial burden.
The Minister assured the members of the affected families that the government stands with them in this difficult time and will take all necessary measures to ensure their swift rehabilitation and recovery.
The minister directed the district administration to expedite the assessment of the losses and ensure that the affected families receive financial assistance and other support without delay.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, briefed the Minister about the prompt response of the district administration following the incident. He informed that an immediate relief amount of ₹10.60 lakh has already been distributed among the affected families to provide them with interim support.
Additionally, the DC stated that directions have been issued to the concerned officers to assess the damage in accordance with the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, ensuring that further compensation and assistance are provided at the earliest.
The DC also highlighted that temporary shelters, food supplies, and other essential commodities have been arranged for the displaced families and assured the minister that district administration is closely coordinating with various departments and local authorities to provide continued support to the affected families until their rehabilitation is complete.
Minister Javed Ahmad commended the district administration for their timely response and emphasized the need for long-term measures to prevent such incidents in the future. He directed the concerned authorities to explore the feasibility of establishing a dedicated Fire & Emergency Services station in the Old Town area to enhance the response time in case of future emergencies.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing full support to the affected families and ensuring their quick rehabilitation. The minister further reassured that all necessary steps will be taken to improve fire safety infrastructure in the area.
