Expressing deep concern over the loss of life and damages caused by the floods and incessant rains across the Kashmir valley especially in South Kashmir, CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has asked the government to press emergency services including air force into service to provide relief and to save precious lives caught in flood hit areas.In a statement issued to KNS, Tarigami said that the flood and irrigation department seems completely oblivious to the floods that have caused havoc in Kashmir especially in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Kulgam districts.“The lack of flood predictions has magnified the damages. Even a few hours of advance warning could have made a massive difference in saving precious lives,” Tarigami said while urging the government make all possible arrangements to prevent further loss of life in flood hit areas.
The CPI (M) leader lamented shortage of essential commodities and the power which is yet to be restored in most rural areas affected by the torrential rains in last couple of days. “But the government must prioritize evacuation of people from flood hit and flood prone areas in order to save people from the natural calamity,” he urged. Expressing serious concern over ineffective disaster relief management in Jammu and Kashmir, Tarigami said that the government must overcome the critical gaps in its preparedness for calamities, especially the natural calamities.Tarigami said that supply of essential commodities including fuel, ration and safe drinking water must be ensured in the most affected areas besides dewatering pumps be supplied to people till the rains are over. (KNS)