Declare floods national calamity: Congress

 The Congress on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the floods in Jammu and Kashmir as a national calamity even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took stock of the situation in the state.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha who is from Jammu and Kashmir, telephoned Modi and demanded immediate steps be taken so that the stranded people are shifted to safer places more efficiently. Azad was of the view that it was beyond the capacity of the state government to meet the challenges of the situation. “So the flood should be declared a national calamity,” he said.

The prime minister assured all possible help to the state after Azad sought his personal attention in view of the “very grave and grim situation” prevailing in the entire state.Azad also asked Modi to immediately release funds so that the rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations are carried out in a co-ordinated manner.

He also sought immediate pressing of Air Force along with the Army so that the stranded people are shifted to safer places more  effectively.

Azad said “extensive and large-scale damage of unprecedented proportions” has occurred to public infrastructure like roads, bridges, drinking water systems, power distribution systems and private properties like houses, shops, vehicles and livestock due to the floods. According to the Congress leader, devastation has engulfed the entire state from Kathua to Leh, including Samba, Jammu, Doda, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Srinagar, and Baramulla.

The state is going to Assembly polls in the next couple of months.