Excelsior Correspondent/PTI
NEW DELHI, Sept 6: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today expressed grave concern towards the calamitous situation arising out of floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
Worried over the alarming loss of life, public infrastructure and private properties in the State, Ms Gandhi appealed to the Government and authorities concerned to ensure every effort at prevention, relief and rehabilitation.
She is in constant touch with the leaders of the Congress in the State, with regards to the ground situation in the area. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and the State Congress have demanded that the situation in J&K be declared a ‘National Calamity’ and the Congress president expressed hope that the Centre will take necessary steps for the same.
She has conveyed her condolences to the family members and friends of those who have lost their near ones and prayed that the missing were safe and are located soon.
Ms Gandhi has also conveyed gratitude towards the constant efforts of the armed and para-military forces who have been toiling hard to provide relief and succour in the affected area.
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to declare the unprecedented loss of life and devastation in Jammu and Kashmir due to incessant rains and massive floods, as a National Calamity.
Mr Azad, who called up the PM from Srinagar, also urged for immediate pressing into service of Air Force and Army on the analogy of Uttarakhand disaster, so that the stranded people are shifted to safer places effectively. The former J&K Chief Minister yesterday visited the flood-hit areas at Jammu and Srinagar cities.
He sought personal attention of Mr Modi in view of the grave and grim situation prevailing in the State and requested him to declare the large scale and unprecedented devastation that has occurred in the State as a National Calamity. Extensive and large scale damage of unprecedented proportions has occurred to public infrastructure like roads, bridges, drinking water systems, power distribution systems and private properties like houses, shops, vehicles and livestock, he said. The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said 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.
Mr Azad requested the Prime Minister to immediately place funds at the disposal of J&K Government, so that the 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, Mr Azad sought immediate pressing into service of Air Force and Army.
Mr Modi assured all possible help to the State in this hour of crisis.
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