Srinagar, July 19: CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, has expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of lives and widespread devastation caused by the flash floods and cloudbursts triggered by torrential overnight rains in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with all those affected by the calamity.
The scale of destruction witnessed in Surankote, Rajouri town, Manjakote and several adjoining areas is deeply distressing. Reports of lives lost, houses reduced to rubble, a graveyard washed away, extensive damage to public infrastructure, and several persons still missing underscore the magnitude of the disaster. He lauded the rescue personnel, local volunteers and officials engaged in rescue and relief operations despite persistent rainfall, damaged roads and difficult terrain.
The people of these border districts have repeatedly borne the brunt of natural disasters and deserve far greater attention in terms of disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure. He stressed that strengthening early warning systems, improving drainage networks, protecting riverbanks and undertaking scientific flood mitigation measures in vulnerable areas can no longer be delayed if such recurring tragedies are to be prevented.
The administration should accord the highest priority to rescue and search operations and ensure that every possible effort and resource is deployed until all missing persons are traced and every affected family receives timely assistance.
He demanded immediate and adequate ex-gratia compensation for the families of those who lost their lives, free and comprehensive medical treatment for the injured, and a special rehabilitation package for families whose houses, shops, agricultural land and other means of livelihood have been damaged or destroyed. The fair compensation to those who have suffered losses of livestock, standing crops and orchards must be announced. The government must provide temporary shelter, food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies to displaced families without delay.
Expressing his deep solidarity with the people of Poonch and Rajouri, Tarigami said the affected families should not be left to rebuild their lives on their own. Both the Union Territory administration and the Government of India should extend all necessary support for relief, rehabilitation and long-term reconstruction of the affected areas.
