Srinagar, Mar 03: Several political leaders have expressed concern and anguish over the loss of lives and property caused by heavy rains, gusty winds and hailstorms across Jammu and Kashmir. They have called for urgent action from the government to address the situation and provide necessary assistance to the affected people.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and party Vice President Omar Abdullah expressed profound anguish over the tragic death of four people including a woman and her three children in a massive landslide triggered by incessant rains and gusty winds in Reasi.
In a condolence message, Dr Farooq said, “I am deeply saddened to learn about the tragic incident triggered by heavy rains in which a number of individuals have lost their lives. My sincere condolences and sympathies to those whose loved ones have been lost in the weather fury. LG should direct the concerned district administration to provide all possible aid to the bereaved families who have lost their near and dear ones as well as medical assistance to the injured.”
Expressing anguish over the havoc caused by the weather fury, Dr Farooq demanded that the weather fury across Jammu and Kashmir should be declared a national disaster and start restoration of surface commute and basic utility services in the affected areas on a war footing. “The impact of the incessant rains and gusty winds is immense and has been felt across Jammu and Kashmir. Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Reasi and Ramban districts are the worst hit. Keeping in view the gravity of the destruction to livestock, crops, public and private infrastructure, the central government should contemplate declaring it a disaster as a national calamity,” he said.
He said disaster response funds under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)/ National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) should be allocated to the several affected districts to mitigate the crisis.
Asking for an early survey of the losses endured by people, Dr Farooq said, “In about hundreds of villages of Pirpanjal, Chenab and South Kashmir districts, farmers’ crops, livestock sheds have suffered a lot due to heavy rain and gusty winds. That is why the government should get a special Girdawari done to assess the loss of the ruined crops, houses and sheds as soon as possible and announce compensation to provide relief to the affected.”
Party Vice President Omar Abdullah, MP Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi, and State Secretary Sakina Itoo have also expressed concern over the losses suffered by people in South Kashmir areas. They demanded adequate relief and compensation to the affected.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari called upon the Lieutenant Governor (LG) administration to step forward and provide necessary assistance and compensation to the people who have suffered significant losses due to the recent rainfall and gusty winds in several areas across Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasised the urgency of dispatching official teams to conduct a thorough assessment of the damage in the affected areas.
In a statement issued here, Altaf Bukhari said, “I am deeply saddened to know that the recent adverse weather has wreaked havoc in many areas in the valley and Jammu. Hundreds of houses, orchards, and trees have suffered significant damage due to the gusty winds and heavy rainfall. I urge the administration to step forward with necessary assistance and provide adequate compensation to the affected people. The authorities must depute official teams to the affected areas for a comprehensive evaluation of the damage.”
Communist Party of India – CPI(M) Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik has expressed deep concern over the massive damage caused to households, and orchardists, whose residential houses, structures, rooftops and orchards got damaged due to heavy windstorms and incessant rains across Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday. He said the administration must direct the revenue authorities to assess the losses immediately so that compensation and relief are provided to the affected people well in time.
Malik also demanded relief for those who died in the Chassana area of the Reasi district when their house collapsed. He demanded immediate restoration of the National Highway as hundreds of passengers are stranded at Jammu who were planning to reach Kashmir.
Apni Party Provincial President Jammu and former minister, S Manjit Singh has expressed shock over the loss of life that includes a mother and her two children in a house collapse. The house collapsed following a devastating landslide that triggered heavy rains at Chassana village in Mahore Sub-Division of Reasi District.
As per a press release, Singh expressed his concern over the loss of life in a tragic incident that consumed three lives following a house collapse in Chassana. “I express my condolences to the family members,” he said while asking the administration to provide needed financial support to the next of kin of the deceased family members and immediately rehabilitate them at a safer place.
Meanwhile, he said that the heavy rains and strong wind have damaged properties and blocked road connectivity and electricity in many areas should be restored. He demanded that the administration across the Jammu region should send the assessment teams of various departments in their respective districts in hilly areas so that adequate compensation could be provided to the victim families.
“The people have suffered loss of property, agricultural land, standing crops, human lives, livestock or cattle, etc,” he said and demanded adequate compensation to the victims.
Apni Party chief coordinator Abdul Majeed Padder expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the losses that people suffered due to the adverse weather conditions in recent days.
In his statement issued here, Padder said, “My heart goes out to the orchardists and the residents whose houses, fruits, and trees were extensively damaged due to the heavy rainfall, hailstorm, and heavy snowfall in various areas of the Noorabad constituency in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The most affected areas are the Yari Khah, Nandimarg, D K Marg, Drugden, Seelkhangan, Boh, Hallan Manzgam, Watoo, Checki Watoo, Malwan, Banimullha, and others.” He urged the authorities to provide compensation to the affected people.
