Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 6: Concerned about the suffering of people affected by the recent heavy rains and floods that have devastated several areas in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of Parliament, Gulam Ali Khatana, has called upon Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to mobilize district and divisional authorities for immediate relief efforts.
In a statement issued today, the MP said, “Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Home Minister, Amit Shah are closely monitoring the situation. The UT administration has been instructed to exhaust all possible efforts to support the people during these challenging times.”
Khatana emphasized that the Union Territory administration has been instructed to spare no effort in serving the affected population during this challenging period. The recent adverse weather conditions have inflicted extensive damage throughout the UT. Khatana stressed the need for a coordinated and rapid response from the administration, stating, “The residents of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered huge losses due to recent rain and floods. The UT administration should immediately launch a drive on a war footing basis to serve the affected people.”
To address the crisis effectively, Khatana highlighted the critical roles that various Government departments must play. He called for a collaborative effort involving the Rural Development Department (RDD), Flood Control & Irrigation, Power Development Department (PDD), Jal Shakti Department, Public Works Department (PWD) and allied agencies. This unified approach aims to tackle the widespread damage and provide much-needed relief to those affected.
He also instructed the divisional heads of the Rural Development Department (RDD), Public Works Department (PWD), Jal Shakti Department and Flood Control Department to conduct spot visits in their respective jurisdictions in the Jammu and Kashmir regions to hold Public Darbars.
He said, “The extent of the devastation is significant, with reports of damage to both private and public property pouring in from across Jammu and Kashmir.” Khatana noted that many areas are facing severe infrastructure challenges, including damaged houses, washed-away roads, soil erosion due to floods, damaged water supply pipelines, and downed electricity poles. These issues have severely disrupted daily life, creating obstacles in mobility, access to clean water and electricity supply.
He also turned attention of administration about the cloud burst hit people of Cherwan Kangan of Ganderbal district where the residents suffered a huge damage to their crops, trees and houses.