After visiting the flood hit areas in Jammu and Srinagar cities since yesterday and in view of the huge loss of lives and unprecedented disruption of public infrastructure and private properties due to incessant rains and massive floods that have engulfed the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir for the last four days, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha and Former Chief Minister, deemed it necessary and appropriate to apprise the Prime Minister about the catastrophic situation which the State of Jammu and Kashmir is in.
In a statement issued to KNS, the spokesman said that Azad spoke to the Prime Minister from Srinagar on Saturday and sought personal indulgence of the Prime Minister in view of the very grave and grim situation prevailing in the entire State, Azad requested him to declare the large scale and unprecedented devastation that has occurred in the State as a ‘National Calamity’.
It is important to mention that extensive and large scale damage of unprecedented proportions has occurred to public infrastructure, like roads, bridges, drinking water systems, power distribution systems etc. and Private properties like houses, shops, vehicles, live-stock etc. The devastation has engulfed the entire State from Kathua to Leh, including Samba, Jammu, Doda, Reasi, Rajouri Poonch, Anantnag, shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Srinagar, Baramulla, and it is beyond the capacity and resources of the State Government to meet the challenges of the situation.
Azad requested the Hon’ble Prime Minister to immediately place funds at the disposal of the State Government, so that the rescue relief and rehabilitation operations are carried out in an effective and co-ordinated manner.While appreciating the role of Armed Forces, in coming to the support of State Governments in disaster situations like the current one, Shri Azad sought immediate pressing into service of Air Force and Army on the analogy of Uttrakhand disaster, so that stranded people are shifted to safer places more efficiently and effectively. Hon’ble Prime Minister assured all possible help to the State in this hour of crisis. KNS)