KL News Network
Srinagar
While politicians made lengthy statements listing demands over the “dignified rehabilitation” of nearly 66 homeless households of Buchwara, two NGOs made exceptions: Athrout and Burn Hall school run Catholic Social Service Society (CSSS). Without sending their statements to the media, the two groups distributed essential commodities among the victim families.
Bashir Ahmad Nadwi, chairman Athrout, informed Kashmir Life that they distributed relief of packed essential food items, with utensils and sleeping mattress which the victim families need this time. He offered not many details.
Burn Hall School also distributed essential commodities including blankets, warm cloths, bags of rice and pulses, cooking oil and other daily use items among these fire victims. School Principal, Rev Fr Sebastian Negathungal told reporters that the some of the workers working for the CSSS have also lost their home in the conflagration encouraging them to provide some relief to the affected families here.
As many as 66 households spend their first night in tents after their houses were destroyed in a disastrous conflagration on Monday morning.
DC Srinagar, Dr Farooq Lone has said that government will be giving them relief cheques worth Rs 101 thousand each under SDRF in next two days. The state controlled Indian Red Cross had already distributed tents, blankets and utensils to the affected families Monday only.
The frightening fire that tool many hours to be controlled roasted alive a resident Muhammad Ramzan, a resident of Kahalpora Dalgate. Basically a resident of Tral, he was living with one of his relatives. Given his age he failed to save himself and was later recovered from debris.
The fire victims have alleged that people from private institutions only visiting them and are providing assistance to them. “So far, the government seems to be in deep slumber as no official visited us to provide any kind of relief,” one fire victim said.
Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti has expressed heartfelt grief over the tragic fire incident in which one life was lost and around 10 houses were gutted. She has directed the divisional administration to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families so that they can resurrect themselves adding the process may be expedited in view of the coming winter season.
“I appeal Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to order for immediate measures for the rehabilitation of these families by way of providing them six months free ration, fuel, makeshift shelters or government rent for their residential accommodation so that they are able to cope up with the winter vagaries,” former minister Syed Altaf Bukhari said in a statement. “Most of the families affected by this shattering fire incident are Below Poverty Line and have been affected so badly that they cannot even purchase their daily use items.”
Earlier in the day, NC Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu visited the area and expressed solidarity with victims. Accompanied by party activists, Mattu visited all the families.
“The temperature goes below zero during the nights and it’s impossible for these families to survive in tents or under the open sky. Most of the families have taken refuge in the local Masjid and are being catered to by the Mohalla Committee. The Administration has various options in some government buildings that could serve as temporary accommodations for the families and they should ensure the victims have heating, sanitary and healthcare arrangements in the short-term”, the NC spokesperson said. “The Government should immediately release in cash an ex-gratia amount Rs five lakh per family so that they could buy warm clothes, warm bedding and basic utensils that they would need to survive in interim, temporary accommodations.”
