Better preparedness could have reduced extent of damage in border areas: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, May 20: Asserting that the demand of people in border areas for immediate setting up of individual bunkers must be fulfilled, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said presence of healthcare facilities, such as availability of ventilators at the government hospital in Poonch, could have helped  to save precious lives. Addressing a press conference, Mehbooba said at a time when people of other states demand better civic facilities, border residents in Jammu and Kashmir are traumatised to an extent, that they have been pleading the government for construction of bunkers.

“Whenever relations between two countries are not good, common people go through a tough time. In Poonch, lack of ventilators and other such advanced health facilities took a toll on treatment. We should have a GMC in Poonch as we have in other districts,” said Mehbooba. “The unfortunate thing is that the situation has forced people to seek bunkers instead of hospitals and schools. I urge the state and central governments to extend help towards shelling affected persons, who should be rehabilitated,” said Mehbooba.

The PDP chief said during her visit to border areas, she met people who have lost their earnings saved for years.

“I met a family which had buried children in the lawn. I went to Tangdhar and met a woman whose husband is a daily wager and their house is fully destroyed by shelling,” said Mehbooba. She said border area residents, who have suffered even partial damage to houses have suffered massive losses.

“I urge the government that all shelling affected areas be declared as war affected zone. I also appeal to the Government of India that all those who lost lives should be declared as martyrs. Their family members should be compensated with jobs,” she added.

She said the loan which people have taken availed should be waived off. “At many places, I got to know that affected persons are being declined insurance with reasons that they suffered losses in a war and not a calamity,” she added.

Mehbooba hit out at people who cheered for war, saying her message to them was that, “before advocating for war they should go and live in forward areas once”.  “War has cost us heavily, we have lost many innocent lives. War is not an option. Centre should take a page out of Atal Behari Vajpayee’s doctrine and move towards a political resolution,” Mehbooba added.