Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in Jammu and Kashmir to oversee medical relief efforts

NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is visiting Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of medical relief operations in the flood-hit state.

Officials said that the Health Minister will reach Jammu today and oversee the on site relief operations there. He will visiting Srinagar tomorrow to review the relief work there.

The Health Ministry has earlier sent over 100 tonnes of medicines and other supplies besides teams of doctors and experts to flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir.

A 20-member clinical team comprising physicians, pediatricians and reproductive health specialists have been deployed in Srinagar.

The ministry has set up a control room here to monitor the situation in the state round-the-clock.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the relief and rescue operations.

"The Prime Minister is closely monitoring the relief and rescue operations in the entire state," Vardhan said during his visit to Poonch today.

He was accompanied by Union Health Secretary Nilanjan Sanyal and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu.

Received at the Advanced Landing Ground in Poonch by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hussain Malik and SSP Shamsheer Hussain Choudhary, Vardhan straightaway went to Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge, which has been severely damaged in the floods.

He also visited the adjoining residential areas, which have been washed away.

The Health Minister then went to the district hospital and met flood victims who are being treated there.

Vardhan also visited a relief camp run by the district administration at Gujjar and Bakerwal Hostel.

Vardhan commended the district administration for restoring basic services and assured him of all help.

Later, while interacting with media persons, he said the Union government and the people of India are fully in support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The situation that has arisen as a result of incessant rains is unprecedented," he said.

"I have been apprised of all the damages, both to life and property, by the Deputy Commissioner which I will communicate to the Prime Minister," Vardhan said.