Chief Minister visits fire-affected families in Warwan
Omar pledges immediate relief and long-term support for rehabilitation
Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 18:
Just a day after taking oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah chaired his maiden cabinet meeting on Thursday at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, marking the beginning of his new tenure.
The meeting, attended by senior officials and cabinet members, was a crucial step in laying down the priorities of the new administration. Later in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary led a delegation to meet Omar Abdullah at his residence in Gupkar. Key political figures, including Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Political Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, and senior NC leader Rattan Lal Gupta, were also present at the meeting, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) informed via a post on X.
In his first public message after assuming office, Abdullah underscored his government’s commitment to ensuring smooth governance with minimal disruption to public life. “I have spoken to the DG @JmuKmrPolice. There will be no ‘green corridors’
CM Omar Abdullah
or traffic stoppages when I travel by road. Public inconvenience must be kept to a minimum, and the use of sirens will be limited,” he posted on X.
Abdullah further emphasized the importance of respectful conduct by public officials, directing his cabinet to avoid aggressive behavior. “Our conduct must remain friendly. We are here to serve the people, not to inconvenience them,” he asserted.
This marks Abdullah’s return to the top office after previously serving as
Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014. His National Conference (NC)-led government has gained the support of the Congress and four independent members, forming a coalition under the INDIA alliance banner.
The recently concluded assembly elections—held after a decade-long gap—saw the NC-Congress alliance secure a majority, with JKNC winning 42 seats and Congress taking six. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also made significant inroads, bagging 29 seats, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won three. One seat each went to the People’s Conference, CPI-M, and AAP, with seven more won by independents.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, today afternoon visited the fire-ravaged Warwan Valley in Kishtwar district, where scores of homes were gutted in a devastating fire that swept through Mulwarwan village on October 15.
The Chief Minister, who assumed office just a day earlier on October 16, met with the affected families, offering his condolences and assuring immediate relief and long-term support to help them rebuild their lives.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma, and senior civil and police officials.
During his visit, Omar Abdullah expressed his government’s commitment to standing by the victims of the tragedy in their hour of need.
“This is our moral responsibility as a government to reach out to you in this difficult time,” Omar told the affected families.
“We are here to help you rebuild your lives. The district administration has already provided initial relief, and I have ordered additional support,” he added.
The Chief Minister further announced that his government has initiated efforts to secure further financial assistance through the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, ensuring that the families will receive additional aid to meet their immediate needs.
He also highlighted that the affected families would be provided housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, helping them to rebuild their homes and start afresh.
In a bid to prevent similar incidents in the future, Omar Abdullah announced the establishing of two new fire service stations in Warwan and Marwah. Additionally, he announced the construction of a proper road leading to the villages, ensuring better access and reducing the risk of fire-related disasters in the remote area.
“Our focus is on both immediate relief and long-term solutions. We must ensure that such tragedies are not repeated,” the Chief Minister emphasized.
