CM Omar reviews winter preparedness in Kashmir

For smooth and uninterrupted delivery of essential services and functioning of vital installations across the Kashmir division, CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in Srinagar to review the preparedness of various departments to address challenges posed by harsh winter conditions, particularly in the snow-bound zones of Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division. Reviewing the health sector’s readiness, the chief minister directed the health department to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, oxygen cylinders, and emergency supplies across all hospitals. On snow clearance, he was briefed that a sufficient number of hi-tech snow clearance machines have been deployed by the R&B Department, SMC, MED, BRO, and NHAI, with additional machines on standby to handle heavy snowfall,” the official spokesman said adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instructed the concerned authorities to focus on clearing key routes, including inter-district highways and roads leading to hospitals, power grids, water supply systems, and fire and emergency services. Additional provisions have been made to ensure timely distribution across districts,” the spokesman said adding that the Chief Minister directed for establishment of joint control rooms in all districts to handle winter-related complaints promptly. Reviewing the health sector’s readiness, the chief minister directed the health department to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, oxygen cylinders, and emergency supplies across all hospitals and asked the officials for maintaining functional central heating systems in healthcare facilities and ensuring the deployment of medical personnel in snowbound areas.