Weather Emergency in J & K

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented rainfall and snowfall.It has led to fold like situation in Kupwara and other areas in Kashmir. Ramban has also witnessed collapse of the land mass leading to the heavy damage to the residential areas where houses have collapsed leading to the loss of precious human life.Jammu and Kashmir National Highway that is the most important life line connecting the various parts of the union territory with the rest of the nation has been closed.Not only that various other highways that include Srinagar-Leh, Bandipura-Gurez,Kupwara-Tangdar have been closed. Mughal Road is already closed.This has led to the isolation of Kashmir valley with other parts of the union territory leading to panic and chaos.Various parts of Jammu and Kashmir have been affected by this natural calamity.People are stranded on the highways and lives have been lost or people are trapped in this devastating situation.In Kishtwar, Ramban and Reasi areas of Jammu region several houses and buildings have been damaged due to heavy rainfall triggering the landslides. This has led to loss of livestock that is the only source of livelihood for the people in the remote and rural areas.Almost all parts of Jammu and Kashmir are under severe threat due to change in weather. As per the official reports approximately 33 families have been relocated in the flood –affected areas of Kupwara. Flood is causing havoc in Kashmir .This has resulted in the closure of schools and the postponement of the university exams. Jammu and Kashmir is in a state of emergency and as such all organs of the UT must work in an integrated manner to rescue the people and save precious human lives in the union territory. The Union Territory Administration must involve all the scientific and technological bodies to provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected people and pre empt any threat to the human life.Help and expertise of the organisation of the expert bodies like the Geological Survey of India and Meteorological Department must be sought so that rescue operations are planned with precision. As this is a natural calamity, we are not yet aware about the exact magnitude of the damage to human life and property. There is a need for wider rescue operations. Armed forces that have the requisite wherewithal to organise rescue operations in worst conditions must be requested to join the operations to save the people. We are well aware how the security forces that include both our army and the police have been at the forefront of saving human lives during the devastating deluge of 2014. There is a need for all segments of the society to join this cause of saving human lives in Jammu and Kashmir. One thing has to be kept in mind that we learnt many lessons during the deluge of 2014 and this has made us wiser .That experience has to be utilised. Communication channels must be activated at war footing. So that people trapped in this calamity can make contact with their near and dear ones and communication channels are restored and the level of panic is minimised. There should be no panic and in this the media both print and electronic must play its role well, It must act as the important organ of disaster management and provide verified information. Information cells must be activated by the media groups to reach out to the people and connect. There is also the need to generate funds and relief for the people in different areas of Jammu and Kashmir. As such media houses can give a call for the Jammu and Kashmir Flood Relief Fund and contribute to this Divine cause and strengthen the administration and provide succour to masses who are caught in this natural calamity. Let us join hands to save our people.