Jammu, Oct 18: The return of Omar Abdullah as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir hasn’t been good for the Chenab valley as a night before he took oath of the office, 80 houses were completely gutted in fire at Mul Warwan area of Kishtwar district.
In January 2009, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), when Omar became the CM of J&K, twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar were cut off from rest of the state and country when a huge portion of hill, through which the 110-km-long Batote-Kishtwar National Highway was passing, got submerged into the river Chenab and for over a month people were left wondering as they had to cross the area on foot in absence of a road.
It was only after a month when the new link was constructed through another area to give a sigh of relief.
This time also when Omar was to take oath, a major tragedy was knocking at his door due to the devastating blaze in Mul Warwan.
This could be a coincidence as there is no control on the natural calamities but this would be a big challenge for Omar to rehabilitate people who are living under open sky at a time when winters have already arrived in the area.
Warwan is a far off Tehsil of district Kishtwar which is not directly connected with district headquarters through road and people have to cross first Margan Top and then Sinthan Top area of district Anantnag to reach Kishtwar town.
These passes remain closed during the winters and people rely on the Helicopter service to visit other parts of the district and the union territory.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will have to come to the rescue of these people before snow blocks the road leading to Warwan.
Moreover, Warwan falls in Inderwal Assembly constituency from where an independent candidate Pyare Lal Sharma won and joined the National Conference which has given more responsibility to the MLA and his party to address the woes of the people.