Political leaders express shock over devastation caused by floods

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 4: Leaders of various political parties have expressed grave concern over the devastation caused by the heavy rains and flash floods in the State.
President Pradesh Congress and former Union Minister, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz has expressed serious concern over the situation created by flash floods and heavy rains in the State particularly in Kashmir province and Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu region.
Prof Soz expressed his distress over the loss of some precious lives in flash floods and expressed the hope that State Government will take every possible step to coop up with the situation.
The PCC chief has instructed the Congress ministers to visit Rajouri and Poonch and provide a helping hand to both administration and people there.
Prof Soz also approached Disaster Management Authority Government of India asking it to take serious note of floods in J&K.
National Conference (NC), president, Dr Farooq Abdullah has expressed his solidarity with the flood victims in the State. He also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
While appreciating the quick and comprehensive response of the State Government has asked it to do every thing possible to help the flood victims in this hour of need.
In a statement issued today, he said the incessant rainfall was a cause of concern and the State administration was taking all necessary steps to evacuate those in low –lying areas while taking care of those who are being rescued and rehabilitated in safer areas.
Dr Abdullah has also instructed NC ministers, leaders and entire cadre to be at the disposal of the flood victims and help them in safeguarding their lives and homes.
Expressing his grief and sorrow over the washing away of a bus carrying 50 passengers by floods in Rajouri and also loss of other human lives in different parts of the State, Dr Abdullah asked the Government to announce the ex-gratia relief to the flood victims and also assess the vast damage caused by insistent rains and flash floods in the State.
Meanwhile NC ministers, legislators and senior leaders toured various areas of the State today and visited Government hospitals, flood areas and interacted with the officials. The ministers are closely monitoring the situation there.
NC leaders including Party general secretary, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Additional general secretary, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, Speaker, Mubarak Gul, Abdul Rahim Rather, Nasir Aslam Wani, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Aga Syed Ruhullah, Irfan Shah, Shamima Firdos, Sakina Ittoo, Chowdhary Mohammed Ramzan, Mir Saifullah, Nazir Gurezi, Javid Dar and others have expressed solidarity with flood victims.
Urging priority to rescue operations People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its serious concern over the loss of life and property due to incessant rains and flash floods across the State.
In a statement issued today the Party expressed solidarity with the flood sufferers and urged the administration and police to work in close coordination with the people in these testing times.
PDP State president, Mehbooba Mufti visited some areas of Srinagar and Pulwama districts and took stock of the situation there. She advised the Party cadres to render all assistance to the administration and flood victims so as to minimize the loss of organizing timely rescue efforts. She also cancelled her tomorrows public meetings at Jammu.
Senior Party leader and MP Muzzaffar Hussain Baig  visited some areas of North Kashmir and took stock of the situation there.
Another senior Party leader and MP Tariq Hamid Karra visited many affected areas of Capital City, Srinagar to assess the situation created due to flash floods and incessant rains.
He said the administration should start eviction of the population from inundated areas on basis of war footing. He stressed that shelters be identified and people in vulnerable areas be advised and assisted to shift before flood could threaten lives.
On the directives of Party president, MLAs, senior leaders and Party cadres have already reached out to the people in respective areas, A PDP handout claimed.
Party legislators Sartaj Madni, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Mohammed Khalil Bhand, Javid Mustafa Mir, Zahoor Ahmed Mir, Rafiq Ahmed Mir Peerzada Mansoor Hussian, Abdul Haq Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Abdul Razak Zawoora and Dr Shafi Ahmed Wani have visited the affected areas in their respective constituencies, statement added.
People’s Welfare Association patron, Ganderbal and trade unionist, Mir Ghulam Rasool Butwani has also expressed grief and shock over the havoc created by flash floods and incessant rains in the State. In a statement he urged the Government to take immediate steps in shifting people to safer areas and provide ex-gratia bereaved families. Mir said river Sindh in Ganderbal is in furry and scores of low lying villages in Sherpathri area of Ganderbal are facing flood threat. He said farmers also suffered a heavy loss as standing paddy crop and fruits have been totally damaged in floods. He urged the Government to asses the loss and pay compensation to affected people.
BJP Muslim Morcha State president Mushtaq Noorabadi while expressing concern over the loss of lives in flash floods and devastation created by it in the State alleged that there was nothing worth Government in the State which could come to the rescue of flood victims.
He said people in marooned areas are in distress as they lack support and assistance from the administration. He demanded rescue operations be started on war footing basis and people in inundated areas be shifted to safer places immediately.

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