Whole country should rise in support of J&K: Mufti

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir and reaching out to affected people, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today sought prompt action by administration and asked the whole country to rise as one in support of the victims in their hour of need.
"There is an urgent need for prompt administration action, co-operation with political and social groups across the country to save the people of Jammu and Kashmir from the catastrophe," he said expressing grief over the loss of over 200 lives and property in the unprecedented rains and floods.
In a statement issued here, he said, "The whole country must rise as one to support the residents of the Jammu and Kashmir in their hour of need, as it has done earlier when natural disasters have struck other parts of the country."

Emphasising on co-operation from all sectors to meet the situation, the Mufti said there was a need to intensify the on-going rescue and relief operations by utilising all resources in terms of finances, machinery, equipment and manpower.
He said Rs 1,100 crore, already at the disposal of the state government under State Disaster Response Fund, should be immediately utilised without delay.
"Jammu and Kashmir is confronting the worst-ever natural calamity in the form of floods, biggest ever in the last 60 years," he said and demanded that more teams of National Disaster Response Force be deputed in the affected areas to evacuate people.

"There is a need to launch a comprehensive joint operation by the administrative machinery, Army, Air Force, Navy and various other security forces to provide relief to the affected people," he said.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting the state and reaching out to the affected people, Mufti said the announcement of Rs 1000 crore additional assistance by him for the state at this juncture was an appreciable step.
"It is good that the entire country is behind the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer to provide all possible help to the people of other side of Kashmir, across the Line of Control at this time of crisis was a nice gesture, which received a reciprocal response from Islamabad."

Mufti said PDP has already opened a centre at Delhi to coordinate the relief activities.
"We appeal to governments, people, NGOs, industrialist, national disaster management agencies and other crisis-related agencies to come forward for immediate help," he said.
"We are in immediate need of boats, tents and rubber boots to evacuate thousands of people from submerged areas where buildings have started to collapse," he added.