SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Wednesday toured several flood-hit areas of Jammu North, expressing deep concern over the widespread damage caused by incessant rains and flash floods.
Sadhotra visited Roop Nagar Colony, Bhawani Nagar, Shivalik Puram and adjoining localities in Jammu Municipal Wards 62 and 37, where swollen nallahs wreaked havoc, damaging houses, roads and other infrastructure. He interacted with affected residents, assured them of the Omar Abdullah-led government’s full support, and promised that the National Conference would strive to ensure their grievances were addressed.
Expressing sympathies with Jyoti Parkash Khajuria, whose house collapsed into a nallah in Roop Nagar Sector 2, Sadhotra said the absence of a protective wall on the major nallah had put several homes at risk. He also took note of the collapse of a double-storey house in the colony, calling the loss irreparable, and demanded immediate financial assistance for reconstruction.
The NC leader raised these issues with the Vice Chairman of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), who assured him that possibilities of assistance would be explored. He also pressed for urgent construction of protection walls and repair of damaged roads in Roop Nagar.
At Bhawani Nagar, Sadhotra urged the Forest Department to widen and renovate the nallah passing through the local park to prevent future flooding. In Shivalik Puram, where floodwaters entered homes and damaged essentials, including ration supplies, he called for the widening of the local nallah and the restoration of damaged roads.
Referring to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s visit to flood-affected areas earlier in the day, Sadhotra said it had rekindled hope among residents and would speed up restoration of power, water supply, roads and drainage systems. He also informed residents that National Conference President Farooq Abdullah was closely monitoring the situation in Jammu and remained in touch with him regarding the people’s hardships.
“National Conference stands shoulder to shoulder with the sufferers in this hour of crisis,” Sadhotra said, demanding immediate pumping out of accumulated water, timely relief distribution and three months’ free ration for affected families.
He also expressed grief over the deaths caused by a landslide on the Mata Vaishno Devi route, offering condolences to bereaved families and urging the Shrine Board to suspend the yatra until weather conditions improved.
