A day after taking charge as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Thursday visited Mulwarwan village, most of which was recently gutted in a devastating fire.

“I have come here to make sure you know that you are not alone in this difficult time,” said Omar, who travelled to the village in the Marwah area of Kishtwar district along with Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary and others.

“Sometimes, I feel that you people in these areas see us only once in five years. We come to take votes and disappear until the next elections,” he acknowledged, adding, “Yeh aap ki sarkar hai, kisi aur ki nahi (This is your government, not anyone else’s).”

Abdullah on Thursday visited the fire-ravaged village where dozens of houses were gutted in a massive blaze, and pledged more relief for the rehabilitation of the devastated families. (PTI)

He met people affected by the fire, which has rendered around 80 families homeless. With the Fire and Emergency Services Department taking hours to reach the remote village, the fire was contained by local residents themselves, many of whom demolished their own houses to stop the fire from spreading.

The village, which is in Jammu division, lacks a direct road link to Kishtwar district headquarters. Omar pointed out that fire tenders had to be brought from neighbouring Anantnag district in the Kashmir Valley, and it took 6.30 hours for them to reach the village.

He announced fire stations would be set up at Marwah and Warwan, so as to ensure timely help in case such incidents come up again in the future. Omar said it was not the first time that fire has erupted in the area. “Every time, we rehabilitate the victims, but they again lose everything in a fire after some years,” he said.

CM Omar Abdullah also assured that the government would hold a special recruitment drive in the area. (PTI)

He also lamented the absence of mobile connectivity in the area. “Here, mobile phones are only useful for their cameras,” he said.

He announced that the government would provide all help in rehabilitating the fire victims, and said that they would also be provided financial assistance under the PM Awas Yojna to construct their houses.

He also assured that the government would hold a special recruitment drive in the area.