Jammu: The Congress on Sunday called on the Centre to announce a comprehensive relief package for flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir and to declare the devastation a national calamity.
J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra also demanded a judicial probe into the deaths of over 100 pilgrims in last month’s cloudburst and landslide incidents on the routes to Machail Mata and Vaishno Devi shrines in Kishtwar and Reasi districts.
Karra criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to the worst-affected areas, saying it had raised hopes among the affected population that went unfulfilled.
“Unfortunately, the aspirations of 1.4 crore people were ignored. His visit appeared casual, merely symbolic, without addressing the plight of the pilgrims who lost their lives,” Karra said.
He added that the BJP-led central government has failed to learn from past calamities and has made no substantial efforts to mitigate natural disasters like flash floods, including enhancing the capacity of rivers and flood channels.
“We urge the authorities to ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future through a comprehensive plan developed in consultation with all stakeholders. Additionally, we demand a full reconstruction package for damaged public and private infrastructure and rehabilitation of affected populations, including farmers who lost standing crops,” Karra said.
Calling for the disaster caused by heavy rains in J&K to be declared a national calamity, he reminded the Centre of the extensive assistance provided to Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, emphasizing that the people of J&K expect similar support to rebuild their lives.
“Your own citizens are yearning for rehabilitation. Many have died, yet the government’s response has been silent and insensitive,” he added.
Karra also sought the relaxation of relief rules for those who lost homes, crops, land, and vehicles, similar to measures taken during the 2014 floods. “Farmers should receive free electricity until productivity is restored, pending Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans waived, and new interest-free KCC loans provided,” he said.
Highlighting the ongoing hardships, he noted that most villages in Jammu division remain without electricity and water and urged immediate action to provide relief. He also demanded free ration for six months for families whose homes were submerged in the floods.
Reiterating Congress’s call for a judicial probe into the August 14 Chisoti cloudburst and the August 26 Vaishno Devi landslide, Karra recommended a retired high court judge examine the incidents to investigate potential criminal negligence by authorities.
“There was a forecast of heavy rainfall, yet pilgrims were allowed to undertake the yatra,” he said, rejecting the three-member committee set up by the lieutenant governor to probe the Vaishno Devi landslide. He pointed out that a similar committee formed after the 2022 shrine stampede never made its report public.
Karra also called for a high-level expert committee to study the contributory and man-made factors, including damage caused by illegal mining by major contractors violating regulations. He stressed that many residents still face land subsidence and need relocation to safer areas with proper rehabilitation.
Finally, he warned of potential waterborne disease outbreaks and urged timely government intervention to prevent any public health crisis.
