Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Sept 13: Saying that entire Jammu and Kashmir shared the grief and miseries of flood-sufferers across the state, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Saturday made a fervent appeal to people to contribute in whatever way they can to minimize the difficulties of those in distress.
“The catastrophe befallen over the state calls for political parties to shun politics and get engaged in relief and rescue measures”, Mr Rana said while interacting with the victims of natural calamity during his extensive tour of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
He, along with MLA Aijaz Jan went round most hit areas and took stock of the relief measures taken to provide respite to the sufferers. He expressed grief and anguish over loss of life and damage to property, especially residential houses, standing crops and cattle. He lauded the efforts of multiple agencies like civil administration, Army, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force, police and security forces for timely rescue of the people in Rajouri-Poonch belts. He said despite massive efforts, most of the people were still marooned in the Kashmir Valley.
“The people of entire state are concerned about their welfare and pray for their immediate evacuation”, Mr Rana said, adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been personally monitoring the relief and rescue operations round the clock. He said the unprecedented calamity has caused havoc across the state, especially in the Kashmir valley and the situation demands extra efforts to rehabilitate the flood hit people.
“In view of ensuing winter, the rehabilitation assumes greater significance”, Mr Rana said and hoped that the Centre would come forward in a big way to provide necessary assistance to the state for rebuilding infrastructure, help people to raise their dwelling units and put in place the utility services.
The Provincial President said that National Conference workers have got engaged in helping the people in distress at the grass roots level in the affected areas. He made a particular mention of the people killed due to landslides and flash floods and hoped the ex-gratia to be released in favour of their kin on immediate basis.
While lauding the Governmental efforts in providing necessary assistance to the flood hit people, Mr Rana urged the Government for carrying out survey to assess the losses so that the affected people are compensated adequately.
Earlier, Mr Aijaz Jan and other senior party leaders gave the vivid account of catastrophe that stuck the twin districts last week and called for immediate relief to be provided to the suffering people. They said that landslides and flash floods have caused colossal damages in remote areas of the two districts.
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