J-K floods: survivors fear worst ahead of the winter

Fearing the worst with the approaching winter, few survivors have alleged that the "lack" of proper management and coordination between various agencies has hampered the rehabilitation of the flood-hit people in Kashmir Valley.
A large number of flood survivors are living in tents or under-construction buildings in areas not affected by the deluge.
"We have been hearing a lot of things about relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people but the government does not seem to be serious about this important issue," Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who lives in a tent on Bemina Bypass road divider said.
Bhat's house in Batamaloo area of the city collapsed after River Jhelum breached its embankments on September 7.

"By now, the government should have made available timber, CGI sheets, bricks, cement and other building material by now so that every affected family can at least have two concrete rooms with a roof over head to brave the winter chill," he said.
Abdul Rehman Wani, whose house in Jawahar Nagar is still inundated, is not even sure about the condition of his home.

"Mine is an old construction. It will be a miracle if my house is still standing as I have seen far newer constructions collapse due to gushing waters, he said.
While no one from the government was willing to comment on record, officials privately admitted that the pace of rehabilitation was very slow and needed to be pushed.

A senior official said there was lack of coordination among various agencies and subordinate staff, at district level, were not taking an initiative.
"In a natural calamity, officers cannot wait for orders every time. Many a time one has to adopt a hit-and-trial approach. You may not succeed every time but at the same time, no one will accuse you of not trying," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"When earthquake struck Kashmir in 2005, there was a quick response from the Centre as well as state government and we saw the victims construct houses and sheds before the onset of winter. We have not seen same response from the current government at the Centre and here," Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Rajbagh, claimed.