MLA Parra visits Rajouri, demands high-level inquiry into tragic deaths

Srinagar, Jan 16: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra on Thursday visited Badhal, Rajouri to offer condolences to the families of 16 victims, mostly children, who tragically lost their lives under mysterious circumstances in the last 40 days. He expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.
The MLA during his visit to the affected area criticised the National Conference-led government for its “inaction”, saying, “The National Conference has multiple elected MLAs from the region, including a Deputy Chief Minister and one minister. They should have visited the village and consoled the grieving families, but they didn’t. They have failed in their responsibility to stand by the people during this tragedy.”
He said, “This is an unfortunate incident where over 16 human lives have been lost so far in the area. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families, and the PDP stands with them in this hour of grief. The situation in the village is terrible. We visited today to express our condolences and stand in solidarity with the affected families. Kontara is a far-off village, and yet nobody is talking about this tragedy. The silence of the government is alarming.”
Parra said the NC has received considerable support from this region, and the Chief Minister should have visited immediately. “There has been a lacklustre response from the government; had they visited in time, some of these lives could have been saved,” he said.
The PDP leader said panic and fear have gripped the village of Badhal, Rajouri as the outbreak continues to spread. He said the villagers live in constant anxiety, with the absence of clarity on the disease’s origin and mode of transmission only aggravating the crisis.
“The affected families deserve transparency, relief and adequate compensation, though no assistance can replace a life,” he said, adding that the government must ensure that the residents are provided with the necessary resources, information and support to navigate this uncertain and tragic situation.
MLA Parra added, “A month has passed, with no answers—just rhetoric, empty promises, and delays. How many more lives must be lost before action is taken? The Chief Minister has neither intervened nor uttered a word on it so far.”
After meeting the affected families, Parra described the situation as “heart-wrenching”, saying that it is truly devastating to witness the grief these families are enduring. “The pain and anguish of the people cannot be ignored. We stand committed to bringing attention to this issue and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent such tragedies in the future. We demand justice, accountability, and immediate financial assistance for grieving families. Their unimaginable loss must not be ignored, and justice must be delivered without delay,” he said.
“The absence of any statement from the government is disappointing. We urge the government to constitute a high-level inquiry and deploy a team of experts to investigate this tragedy. A time-bound report is essential to fix accountability and ensure justice,” the MLA added.