Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Jan 11: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) took out a rally from Salathia Chowk to DC office and held a massive protest demonstration and dharna seeking immediate relief for the victims of the catastrophic rains and floods which rocked the entire State during September last year and washed away thousands of lives, crops, livestock and homes.
The protest was led by JKNPP State president, Balwant Singh Mankotia. The vociferous protestors blocked the highway resulting in traffic jam for hours.
Mankotia disclosed to the media that the State Government had promised to provide free ration to those affected for at least six months but on the ground reality only few families managed to procure the ration that too for not more than one month and the promises and assurances made by the Government only proved to be mere rhetoric.
He added that Saddal village in Tehsil Pancheri had been completely swept away by the rains and hundreds of human bodies and bovine animals were buried alive in the landslides. Several people turned homeless and marooned battling for their survival. The flood victims are living in a pathetic and miserable condition without any relief and shelter. Moreover, the tents which were provided to the marooned lives have completely torn out and damaged.
Mankotia further added that in other hamlets of the district namely Kasoori and Sui nearly 48 and 18 families, respectively had migrated to safer places and were provided ‘pre-fabricated structures’ for their living but the administration has been forcing them to leave and shift to other places.
He lamented over the lackadaisical, apathetic and ruthless attitude of the District administration while handling this disaster. Mankotia said that the relief material worth 25000 metric tons received from Chhattisgarh that was dumped at several godowns, has decayed and turned rotten without any distribution and consumption.
Mankotia appealed the Governor NN Vohra to intervene and expedite the relief and rehabilitation process for the flood victims of Udhampur so that they are liberated from hunger and starvation.
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