SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) President and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Thursday expressed grief over the loss of at least 41 lives, including several Vaishno Devi pilgrims, in flash floods and cloudbursts triggered by unprecedented rainfall in Jammu province earlier this week.
The fatalities, reported from Reasi and Doda districts between Tuesday and Wednesday, have once again highlighted the vulnerability of Jammu and Kashmir to natural calamities, Yaseen said in a statement. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The calamity has shaken the entire region. At a time when people from across the country come for spiritual solace at Vaishno Devi, such a tragedy has brought unimaginable pain to the families who lost their loved ones,” he said.
Criticising what he termed the “fragile disaster preparedness” of the administration, the PDF leader said it was “shocking” that lessons from the 2014 floods had not been learned. “Early warning systems remain weak, embankments remain vulnerable, and coordination among agencies during crises is still poor,” he remarked.
Yaseen accused the government of adopting a reactive approach, stating that disaster management in Jammu and Kashmir “largely exists on paper and is seldom visible on the ground”. He said people continue to pay with their lives every year due to landslides, floods, and cloudbursts, while authorities respond only after tragedies strike.
Calling for a comprehensive and scientific action plan, the PDF chief urged the Union Territory administration to strengthen flood control measures, embankments, and drainage systems, and to establish dedicated rescue infrastructure across vulnerable districts.
He also sought immediate relief and compensation from the Centre for the affected families, particularly for pilgrims from outside states who lost their lives.
“The time has come for the government to stop mere lip service and take concrete, time-bound measures. Lessons of 2014 must not be forgotten, otherwise we will continue to witness devastation on this scale,” Yaseen warned.
He further appealed for a review of disaster preparedness along pilgrimage routes, tourist destinations, and flood-prone belts of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the safety of pilgrims, visitors, and residents.
