PDP cadres asked to come to the rescue of the needy: Mehbooba

Jammu, Mar 30: Expressing shock and grief over the loss of human lives due to landslides and floods, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today asked the party cadres to come to the rescue of the needy in the state.

"PDP cadres have been asked to come to the rescue of the needy as and start community kitchens and other facilities in respective areas so that the people get the much-needed succor amid trying circumstances," Mehbooba said here today.

The Anantnag MP expressed shock and grief over the tragic loss of human lives due to land sinking in forest foothills of Laldan area in Chadoora, Budgam. She also expressed grief over the death of a person in Udhampur due to flashfloods.

Mehbooba urged the divisional administration to expedite the rescue and relief operation in Laldan area to save the people trapped there. She also asked the government to "immediately" release ex-gratia relief to the next of the kin of the deceased persons.

"Although no measure could compensate the loss suffered by the families, the government should reach out to the families of the victims in this moment of grief," she said and added that the rescued families should be immediately shifted to safer places and provided adequate rations and other essentials of life.

Expressing sympathies with the bereaved families, Mehbooba said the people living in vulnerable areas should be immediately evacuated and shifted to safer places to prevent any further loss of human lives in the accidents caused by flashfloods, avalanches and landslides.

Mehbooba expressed solidarity with the families that have suffered losses to their houses and livestock due to the fresh floods in Kashmir and other parts of the state. She also called for immediate restoration of Srinagar-Jammu Highway.

She assured the people that the government would take all possible measures to prevent any loss to human lives or the properties due to floods. Several ministers are camping in Kashmir to keep a close watch on the situation, in coordination with the local administration, to ensure that people don't have to suffer in case of any eventuality, she said.

PTI