Srinagar, Sep 08: Congress Leader and Media Coordinator for Kashmir, Dr Audil Farooq Mir Lasjan has appealed to the Government of India (GoI), demanding that the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir be immediately declared a national disaster.
“The magnitude of destruction—measured in lives lost, livelihoods shattered, homes submerged, agricultural fields ruined, and infrastructure crippled—demands recognition under the highest category of natural calamities,” Dr Audil said in a statement issued here. “Only then can we ensure the urgent mobilisation of resources and equitable rehabilitation under national relief and reconstruction norms.”
He pointed out that the worst-hit areas, including Lasjan A–E, Padshahibagh, Soiteng, and Gandabal, have witnessed entire families displaced overnight. “Poor labourers, daily wagers, and working-class families have been hit the hardest. They require immediate financial assistance simply to survive,” he stressed.
Dr Audil insisted that flood management in Jammu and Kashmir must be elevated to the level of a National Emergency Mission. “This is not merely about rescue and relief, but about scientific, long-term planning. We must dredge our rivers, strengthen our embankments, modernise flood channels, and build disaster-resilient infrastructure to ensure that such tragedies are never repeated,” he explained.
The Congress leader said that displaced families must be fully rehabilitated and compensated, while farmers, traders, and daily wage earners must be provided timely relief for losses to crops, livestock, and businesses.
Highlighting the larger implications, Dr Audil remarked, “This is not a regional crisis—it is a national challenge. Jammu and Kashmir’s floods are India’s floods, and the responsibility of addressing them must be shouldered by the nation as a whole.”
He concluded with a strong appeal: “The Government of India must rise above politics and respond to this calamity with urgency, sensitivity and responsibility.”
