Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hameed Karra, on Sunday, demanded that the Centre shoiuld declare the devastation across Jammu and Kashmir caused by heavy rains, cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods as a national disaster in order to facilitate the people to get adequate relief and compensation. He also sought a mega relief and rehabilitation package from the centre.
Karra said that the Rs.209 crore allocation under the SDRF by the Central government is a routine grant but peanuts to the magnitude of losses and damage.
The party also demanded setting up of a high-level commission of experts to investigate the reasons and contributory man made factors, including large scale complaints of illegal mining, which led to loss of lives and property.
Karra demanded an independent probe into the Vaishno Devi catastrophe by a sitting or retired high court judge to look into the criminal negligence behind the tragedy in which 35 pilgrims were killed and fix responsibility for the same. He rejected the enquiry committee consisting of officers as he said that a similar committee set up after the stampede tragedy on January 1, 2022 failed to ensure justice to the victims.
He said the Chashoti tragedy in Kishtwar could also have been averted had the yatra been suspended in the wake of a weather alert. As many as 67 pilgrims died in the flash-flood triggered by a cloudburst and about 40 are still missing.
Karra was flanked by Working President Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Yogesh Sawhney, Ved Mahajan and others.
The people have suffered immense damage to their houses, crops, livestock and other property. Some have totally lost their shelter, costly items, vehicles and other property of lifetime struggle, he said.
The farmers have suffered a lot in terms of crops, livestock and other property. People are still suffering for basic needs like water, power, their approach lanes, drains and means of connectivity couldn’t be restored.