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Srinagar, Sep 7 (UNI) CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today came down heavily on the Jammu and Kashmir government for its failure to tackle the flood situation in the state.

''The state administration has, once again, fumbled in learning the lessons from decades of experience in tackling the flood menace in Kashmir,'' he said in a statement here.

Mr Tarigami said colossal damage to life and property could have been avoided had the state administration been prepared in advance to face the flood situation. ''It is regrettable. The government has an attitude of digging a well when the house has already caught fire,'' he added.

The state CPI(M) secretary said hundreds of residential houses, vast tracts of land with standing crops, fruit and the livestock have been washed away in the floods.

''That is why thousands of helpless peasants do not believe the stories dished out by the administration about the measures taken by it. The situation on the ground is that whatever the government did today could well have been planned in advance to minimise the damage,'' he added.

Mr Tarigami said the farmers of Kashmir, already in a helpless position due to the recent hailstorm and strong winds which damaged their standing crops and fruit, were face-to-face with the havoc caused by floods this year.

They have to be provided with adequate compensation after assessing the loss caused, which brooks no delay, he added.

The CPI(M) leader said there was danger to lives due to water borne diseases and lack of potable drinking water.

UNI AG MS HS1530