NEW DELHI : 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.
(AGENCIES)
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