Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah today conducted an extensive tour of areas falling under the Batamaloo Constituency that have been adversely affected by water-logging and flooding due to a breach in a local nallah.
Omar was accompanied by NC Leader and Batamaloo Constituency In-charge Irfan Ahmed Shah and Political Secretary Tanvir Sadiq.
Omar Abdullah visited various localities and residential colonies that continue to be water-logged and also visited those areas where residential houses have suffered extensive damage due to the incessant rainfall.
The locals complained about discrimination by the administration in dispensing relief and de-watering operations and told the NC leader that nobody from the administration had cared to mitigate their sufferings beyond photo-ops.
Omar asked the Government to address the issues on a priority basis and ensure that de-watering is conducted in a focused and sustained manner as a lot of areas continue to be water-logged. Omar Abdullah also asked the Government to conduct immediate assessment of losses to residential houses and dispense interim relief to the affected families.
The locals at various places accompanied the NC Working President while he went through the areas on foot.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah has also expressed grief over the incident of nearly 40 houses being severely damaged at Frest-haar, Baramulla due to a massive landslide that occurred due to the incessant rains.
Omar Abdullah asked the State Government to rehabilitate the affected families to temporary shelters without any further delay and also implored the administration to distribute interim monetary compensation that would be a dire need at this point of time.
On the instructions of the Working President, a delegation from National Conference that included NC leaders and office-bearers from Baramulla visited Frest-haar and met the affected families. The victims informed the visiting NC delegation of brazen official negligence in responding to such a serious incident and said they were yet to be informed about any plans by the Government to provide them shelter and interim compensation.
The NC delegation conveyed the concern of Omar Abdullah and implored the administration to rise up to the occasion and address this emerging situation without any laxity.
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