More than a week after the devastating rains and flash floods of August 25-26, Jammu continues to reel under a humanitarian and civic crisis of alarming proportions. Entire mohallas-particularly in the low-lying areas of the Jammu East constituency, such as Peer Kho, Gujjar Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Gorkha Nagar-remain buried under layers of muck and debris. Houses are choked with mud, essential belongings have been destroyed, and yet, officials clueless. The tragedy is not just the loss inflicted by nature but the apathy that followed. Families who have lost everything are forced to clean their homes with bare hands in the absence of a water supply. Tons of mud and stones continue to clog streets, leaving many localities inaccessible. Mere distribution of food packets, while welcome, is no substitute for comprehensive relief. Without water, power, road clearance and sanitation measures, survival itself is becoming impossible for the flood victims.
Equally worrying is the looming threat of a public health disaster. With sewage and floodwaters stagnating, the risk of cholera, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases grows by the day. Yet, no organised medical camps or vaccination drives have been initiated. Children are sleeping in filth, families are huddled on rooftops, and sanitation is deteriorating with each passing hour. Health experts have already sounded the alarm.
Each MLA is rushing to JMC for urgent help, but piecemeal measures have yielded little on the ground. Relief work cannot be left to an overstretched civic body and the goodwill of NGOs alone. The UT Government must intervene decisively. All resources at its disposal-mechanical equipment, additional manpower, emergency funds, and medical teams-must be mobilised immediately to restore a semblance of normalcy. Priority must be given to clearing debris and restoring road access, along with the resumption of water and power supply. Mass sanitation drives and medical camps are essential, with proper vaccination against potential epidemics. This is the time for extraordinary and coordinated efforts. The people of Jammu deserve more than sympathy-they deserve action. At stake are not just homes, but lives. Time is critical, and timely intervention is the need of the hour.
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