Loss of life and property in J&K could have been avoided but flood control department failed to do it: Saroori

Flood control department already knows in 2010 that Srinagar city is likely to submerge in water due to a major flood

Jammu, September 13: - In the worst-ever floods to hit the Jammu and Kashmir state in 109 years, over 250 people have been dead in the catastrophe. Many more people in the state hit flood areas have gone missing, the loss of life and property could have been avoided. This was stated today by Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Senior Congress Leader, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori.

Saroori today lambast on flood and control department for not taking any steps for saving the hundreds of life as they knew it was coming. They must have, because there were enough warnings, and the clearest came by the truckload.

“Moreover an article published in February 2010 in English daily Greater Kashmir website states that warnings issued by the flood control department, Srinagar would go under water in 'next five years' and the flood control department is not prepared to face a disaster of that quantum. "We are expecting a water discharge of around 150000 cusses if flood hits Srinagar city, leaving most parts of the city submerged", the report quotes a senor official of the flood control department,” Saroori said.

He further said that four years ago, the Flood Control Department of Jammu formulated a dire but accurate warning on the state’s summer capital being flooded by an intense spell of rain. The report and its copies weighed roughly a tonne, and the heavy-duty consignment was sent to the Union Ministry of Water Resources in a truck four years ago. The Flood Control Department was more than just a doomsayer and no further steps were taken by the department," Saroori said

Saroori has urge centre government to immediately release a Rs 2,200-crore flood control plan to put basic infrastructure in place. He also hoped that Rs 2100 crores announced by the Centre as relief for the State would be released expeditiously so that the Government will be in a position to take up relief works at the earliest and also for implementing various measures including afforestation, dredging of Jhelum and agricultural issues.

Today Mohd Iqbal Malik, Shokat Ibrahim Sheikh, Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, Firdous Bhawani, Arshad Najar, Haji Javed, Haji Rafi, Mohd Shafi Din, Ghulam Mohd Rasool and many more peoples, students from Erstwhile Doda district met with Mr. Saroori and shared their experiences and situations in Srinagar flood hit area. Saroori said it is really tragic what has happened in the Jammu and Kashmir and I am deeply grieved and shocked to learn of the tragic loss of life and property caused due to heavy rainfall, flash-floods, floods and landslides. He also requested all people’s to stand shoulder to shoulder with our state Jammu and Kashmir and to support in this hour of crisis.He made an appeal to donate generously for the flood-affected people in Jammu and Kashmir.

It is pertinent to mention here that still three lakhs of people are stranded at their respective rooftops and are waiting for rescuing to safer places and more than 1.25 lakhs people have been evacuated from the affected areas till date.