Jammu/New Delhi, September 23
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and demanded a special rehabilitation package from the Centre for the flood-ravaged state.

The Prime Minister promised full assistance to the state in rehabilitating affected families and reconstructing damaged infrastructure.

Omar’s meeting comes a day after he met Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari and Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh during their visit to Srinagar to assess damage to roads in the state.

He raised concerns over the poor condition of BSNL mobile services in the state and urged the Centre to take steps to ensure restoration of mobile connectivity, say sources. He apparently pointed out that while the mobile connectivity of all service providers, including private players, had taken a hit during the floods, private telephone services were back to normal 10 days after the floods, but those of the state-run BSNL had deteriorated.

During his meeting today, Omar expressed gratitude to the Centre for providing timely assistance.

“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their dear ones,” said Omar adding that the loss to property had been colossal. He sought liberal assistance from the Central Government to ensure early relief and rehabilitation of those affected.

“We look to you in this hour of grave crisis for all the required support in the second phase of calamity management in terms of rehabilitation of the affected families by providing housing and livelihood, besides permanent restoration of public assets,” he told the Prime Minister.

Omar also sought Centre’s approval to the Rs 2,200-crore flood threat management project for the Jhelum.