Political leaders anguished over loss of lives, damage to property due to heavy rains, gusty winds

Srinagar, Mar 3 : Sever olitical leaders have expressed anguish over the loss of lives and damage to property due to heavy rains and gusty winds in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir

Dr Farooq Abdullah & Omar Abdullah

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 women and her three children in a massive land slide 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 who 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."

NC President demanded that the weather fury across Jammu and Kashmir should be declared as 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 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.

In the mean time , 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, Dr Farooq Abdullah 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, 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 affected people.

Altaf Bukhari

Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Sunday, 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 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,” he added.

CPI (M)

CPI (M) Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik has expressed deep concern over the massive damage caused to households, orchardists, whose residential houses, structures, rooftops and orchards got damaged due to heavy windstorm and incessant rains across Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday.

He said that administration must direct the Revenue authorities to assess the losses immediately so that compensation and relief is provided to the affected.

He also demanded relief for those who died in Chassana area of Reasi district when their house collapsed.

He demanded immediate restoration of National Highway as hundreds passengers are stranded at Jammu who were planning to reach Kashmir.

Abdul Majeed Paddar

Apni Party chief coordinator Abdul Majeed Padder, has 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.