Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday visited several flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district to assess the ground situation, urging the government to provide relief to the affected families.
Mehbooba expressed concern over the extensive damage to residential houses, agricultural land, business establishments and water supply infrastructure, besides the loss of lives in the natural calamity.
At least 11 people were killed and several others went missing when torrential rains on July 19 triggered landslides and flash floods in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Interacting with affected families, she was informed that many victims were yet to receive adequate government assistance and were facing difficulties in rebuilding their homes and restoring their livelihoods.
“The government should have done something by now. It has been almost one-and-a-half months since this disaster,” Mehbooba told reporters.
She said defunct drinking water supply pipelines should be restored immediately and sought suitable accommodation for those who have lost their homes in the calamity.
“Those whose houses have become completely uninhabitable should at least be provided two-room accommodation, land or flats,” she said.
Mehbooba also made a special appeal to the Omar Abdullah government to provide a job to a member of the family of Abdul Ghani, a resident of Alal Mangota, whose body has reportedly not yet been recovered following the flash floods.
Referring to another affected family, she said, “We had just gone there, where the daily wage worker, Kali Sahib, had passed away. His family has still not received any information about him.”
Talking to reporters, she also urged authorities to protect agricultural land in vulnerable areas, saying several families were still facing danger as rains continued.
“The chief minister came, other officials came, and I have also come here. But if there is still no solution to the people’s problems after today, then what will they do? People will simply lose all hope in the government,” she said.
The PDP president demanded adequate compensation for all severely affected families, particularly those who had lost houses, agricultural land, businesses and other sources of livelihood.
During the visit, Mehbooba was accompanied by several senior PDP leaders and functionaries, who also interacted with affected families and assured them that their grievances would be taken up with the concerned authorities.
