Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 24: Continuing with his efforts to reach out to the flood affected people of J&K, former Chief Minister J&K and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad visited a number of villages/ localities of Bijbehara, Anantnag, Homeshalibug, Dooru and Kokernag Constituency of South Kashmir to have a first assessment of the damage caused due to incessant rain and ravaging floods.
Accompanied by Senior Congress leader & AICC general secretary, Ambika Soni, PCC President Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz, Minister of Tourism, G A Mir, MoS Technical Education, Power & Information, Viqar Rasool, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, DCC President Anantnag & other senior leaders, Azad visited Battengo, Shool, Shamsipora, Bus Stand Anantnag, Achhabal, Bangidar, Mir Dhantar, Dayalgam, Larkipora, Mandpora, Hiller, Shergund, Vider etc. and listened to the woes and travails of the people who have suffered worst floods in the recent history of the State.
People at all the places explained to him the trauma which they had to undergo while incessant rains and flashfloods lashed the State of Jammu & Kashmir leaving behind a trail of wreck, ruin and destruction. While narrating their hardships and woes, people took them around village after village to apprise Mr Azad and other Congress leaders to show the tell-tale scenes of devastation caused by flood waters.
Expressing solidarity with the flood affected people, Mr Azad assured them wholehearted support in nudging the Central & State Governments to come forth in a big way to help them rebuild their lives.
Mr Azad said that during the last one week’s visits to the flood affected areas in the entire State, he has come across devastation and destruction of colossal magnitude and that a massive reconstruction effort is required to bring back the State on the path of revival and prosperity.
Exhorting the flood victims living in all parts of the State to be vigilant to get the damages to their properties, including houses, orchards, agriculture lands, livestock, etc registered with the concerned authorities, Mr Azad exhorted the administration to adopt a proactive, sensitive and responsive appr-oach to the greiva-nces/problems of the people, adding that distraught and depressed flood victims are looking upto the administrative machinery with hope and expectations.
He further urged the administrative machinery to empathise with the people in this hour of grief and ensure objective, transparent and fair assessment of the damages suffered by them, saying this will help the people to come out of the psychological stress they are in.
Reiterating the demand of early announcement of special financial package by the Central Government covering all aspects of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, Mr Azad said that scale and magnitude of this disaster is so humongous that State Government with its meagre resources will not be able to cope with it. “There is no point in delaying the sanctioning of a special package, and I would urge the Central Government to fast-track the matter for taking up the rebuilding measures before the onset of winter”, said Mr Azad.
Responding to the demand for adequate compensation by the people, Senior Congress leader and Gen. Secy. AICC Ambika Soni assured the people that they will be paid adequate compensation for the damage to their properties, adding that Congress party will strongly pitch for house damage compensation equivalent to or more than what was given in Uttrakhand and that they will vociferously and steadfastly take up their issues at the appropriate fora.
Mr Azad alongwith other Congress leaders will continue his tour of flood affected areas of South Kashmir tomorrow.
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