Srinagar, Dec 29: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Sunday criticised the government for its “inadequate response” to the challenges faced by the people of Kashmir following the recent snowfall.
He said there is a need for a robust winter preparedness strategy and a prompt on-ground response mechanism to better manage weather-related challenges in the region.
In a statement issued here, Hakeem said the residents of Sitharan, Sugin and Khag in the upper Budgam district face hardships. “Despite prior weather forecasts from the MeT department, the administration’s lackadaisical approach has failed to effectively address public concerns,” he said.
Yaseen urged the government to keep all personnel and machinery in “Quick Response Mode” to tackle the ongoing issues, saying the roads, lanes, and footpaths in rural areas, particularly in Sugin, Khag and Sitharan remain snow-covered, severely impacting daily life and causing tremendous hardship due to disruptions in power and water supply.
The former minister said the first snowfall of the season has resulted in widespread power outages, road blockades, scarcity of essential commodities and waterlogging. “This has exposed the administration’s inadequate response to such natural events,” he said.
Hakeem also commended the people of Kashmir for their generosity in opening their hearts and homes to accommodate stranded tourists, which he said helped avert a crisis.
