Sonia urges Centre to declare J&K flood a 'national calamity'

Expressing grave concern over the grim situation of flood in Jammu and Kashmir which has claimed 107 lives so far, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today urged the Centre to declare the crisis a "national calamity".
She has also appealed to the Centre and state government to make every effort at relief and rehabilitation, according to a statement from Congress.
"(Senior party leader) Ghulam Nabi Azad and the state Congress (unit) have demanded that the situation in the state be declared a national calamity and the Congress President has expressed hope that the Government of India will take necessary steps for the same," the party said.

Gandhi is in constant touch with state leaders of Congress, which along with its ally National Conference is in power there, to keep herself abreast of the ground situation, it said.
"Worried over the alarming loss of life, public infrastructure and private properties in the state, Gandhi has appealed to the government and authorities concerned to ensure every effort at prevention, relief and rehabilitation," Congress said.
Gandhi has conveyed her condolences to the family members and friends of those killed in flood-related incidents and prayed that those missing are safe and are located soon, it said.

She also conveyed her gratitude towards the constant efforts of the armed and para-military forces for toiling hard to provide relief and succour to people in the state.

Torrential monsoon rains which triggered flooding, landslides and house collapses have so far caused 107 deaths as the situation worsened today and rescuers struggled to evacuate tens of thousands of people to safety with major rivers in spate.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh rushed to Srinagar and Jammu to take stock of the situation in the wake of the heaviest rains and flooding in the state in six decades but could not make an aerial survey due to inclement weather.