Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and party Vice President Omar Abdullah on Sunday 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 as a national disaster and start the 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.
“Meantime disaster response funds under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)/National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) should be allocated to the several affected districts to mitigate the crisis,” he said.
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.
