Azad tours flood-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad today toured flood-hit areas of Beerwah and Budgam to take stock of the damages and listen to the views of the affected people.
He was accompanied by PCC President Saif ud Din Soz and other leaders.
During the day-long visit, Azad visited more than a dozen villages and had an elaborate interaction with flood victims.
Seeking wholehearted support of the government to rebuild their lives, people raised the demand of proper and efficient distribution of relief material, continuous supply of food, tents, restoration of power and water supply and full compensation for the damages suffered by them.

"People especially sought immediate compensation for the losses incurred in terms of damage to their houses, orchards, agricultural lands, business establishments, etc so that they can reorganise their lives and resume earning livelihoods," a release issued by Azad's office said.
Ruing largescale disfigurement caused by flood waters, Azad observed that wherever one goes, the same spectacle devastation is laid around with people to share their tales of woes.

"A trail of devastation has been left and it will take sometime for the people to overcome this gloomy chapter of their lives", Azad said.
Advocating early announcement of a liberal financial package at the earliest, Azad said that "with winter season staring us in our face, the central government should expeditiously release the funds to the state government for taking up rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

He further said since the state government is not having the resources to surmount the huge challenge of rehabilitation of people and reconstruction of distraught infrastructure, there is no logic in delaying the sanction of special package by the central Government.