Kashmir flood victims demand compensation for losses

The people, mostly shepherds, have demanded compensation from the government for the losses incurred by them because of the devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

They are demanding compensation for their cattle and herds that got washed away in the flood waters.

In far flung areas of Rajouri district, the shepherds were on higher reaches of the Pir Panjal range and their cattle, mostly sheep and mules, got washed away when the flood hit the region.

Abdul Rashid, a victim, said the people at upper reaches of Pir Panjal mountain range did not receive basic relief, which was provided to others.

"We appeal to the government to give us some compensation as they have given 50 kg ration to other victims. We didn't get tents and not even a relief house in lieu of our destroyed ones. We should have been given basic relief," Rashid said.

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The victims also complained that the government did not pay any heed to their losses and is not issuing compensation for the same.

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Zulfikar Ali Choudhary, a legislator of Rajouri region, said the government should also focus on migratory population of the state.

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"We plead the government that instead of examining their case minutely; they should pay off their compensation. The government is asking for photographs of cattle killed. How would they produce photographs of animals that have died and flown to Pakistan with the floods? From where would they bring pictures of dead animals," said Choudhary.

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Jammu and Kashmir saw extensive flooding last month with Srinagar particularly hard hit. Hundreds of people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless.

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More than 75,000 people were in partly submerged homes in Srinagar, where roads had transformed into stagnant canals strewn with wreckage, trash and dead animals.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the flood-ravaged Kashmir Valley today to observe a silent Diwali in solidarity with the flood victims.