 Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 17: In a compassionate and practical decision aimed at supporting families devastated by the August 14 cloudburst, authorities have decided to officially declare the 32 missing persons from Choshiti village dead within six months.
The announcement is being treated as a special case, as the missing individuals have been untraceable since the massive cloudburst and subsequent flash flood ravaged the area, destroying homes, farmland, and lives.
Under existing government rules, a missing person can only be officially declared dead after a period of seven years. However, given the extreme circumstances and the near certainty that the missing persons did not survive the disaster, the administration has chosen to relax this rule to expedite the disbursal of compensation and other relief benefits.
A senior official associated with the district administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The scale of devastation in Choshiti village is unprecedented. Rescue operations have concluded, and extensive searches have yielded no signs of the missing individuals. The authorities are now preparing to officially recognize their loss so that their families can receive the compensation and support they desperately need.”
The government had earlier announced financial assistance packages for families of those who lost their lives in the disaster. However, for families of missing persons, the inability to prove death legally has delayed their access to relief. With this new decision, officials hope to provide closure and support to those grappling with uncertainty and grief.
This is not the first time such relaxation has been extended in cloudburst-affected areas. In 2021, following a cloudburst in the Dechhan area of Kishtwar district, three persons went missing.
Within five months, the administration declared them dead and provided death certificates to their families, facilitating compensation and benefits.
Sources confirmed that a similar process will be followed in the current case. “Legal procedures are being fast-tracked. Documentation is being prepared, and once the necessary verification is completed, death certificates will be issued to the families. Efforts are being made to ensure that the grieving families are not subjected to further bureaucratic delays,” said another official.
The Choshiti cloudburst left deep scars on the landscape and the lives of its residents. Entire houses were swept away, fields were eroded, and families have been left shattered both emotionally and economically. Declaring the missing persons dead, while necessary for administrative relief, is only one step toward helping the village rebuild its life.
As the process moves forward, authorities have assured that the affected families will receive all due benefits in line with government policies, and that reconstruction efforts will continue alongside rehabilitation programs. The coming months will be critical in determining how swiftly and effectively the affected communities are supported in their journey toward recovery. |
