Key Points

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited flood-affected areas in Srinagar where he confirmed extensive property damage though no lives were lost. He announced he would formally request Home Minister Amit Shah to send a central assessment team to evaluate damage across 10 districts. The CM sharply criticized the central government's lack of flood preparedness over the past 11 years, calling that period "wasted." State officials revealed that a flood mitigation plan made over a decade ago was never implemented, prompting plans for a new comprehensive strategy.

Key Points: Omar Abdullah Visits Flood-Hit Srinagar Criticizes Centre Preparedness

  • Omar Abdullah confirms no loss of life but severe property damage in floods
  • CM demands central damage assessment team for 10 affected districts
  • Questions Centre's flood preparedness efforts over past 11 years
  • Deputy CM alleges BJP-PDP government made empty claims about improvements
  • New flood mitigation plan to be prepared to prevent future crises
  • Administration successfully evacuated people before flooding worsened
3 min read

J-K: CM Omar Abdullah visits flood-affected Srinagar, calls for damage assessment; criticizes Centre's preparedness

J-K CM Omar Abdullah surveys Srinagar flood damage, calls for central assessment team and relief package while questioning Centre's flood preparedness over 11 years.

"Today it seems that these 11 years were wasted - Omar Abdullah"

Srinagar, September 4

Amid heavy rains, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Thursday, during his visit to the flood-affected areas in Srinagar, stated that while there has been no loss of life, property had suffered severe damage.

"Administration has been on the ground. People were evacuated from their houses at the right time. There has been no loss of life. There indeed has been a loss of property. We will have to decide whether the team being sent by the Centre to assess damage to properties in 10 districts of Jammu...through a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, I will urge him to send the same team to Kashmir. Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora, which have suffered damage due to flooding, be assessed and then a relief package for Jammu as well as Kashmir divisions be sanctioned by the Centre," Abdullah told while speaking to reporters here.

The CM criticised the lack of preparedness by the central government, questioning what was done in the last 11 years.

"After that, we will have to question what was done for the last 11 years?... Today it seems that these 11 years were wasted. First of all, I will conduct a review next week regarding the work done in 11 years; we will have to take concrete steps to ensure that we do not face this situation after just two days of rain. We will begin the preparations from today itself..." he further added.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, raising questions over the work done by the Central government, alleged that they had only made claims, further stating that the people of the union territory had suffered a lot.

"People of J&K have seen a lot of things...We would not want the coming generation to face what we are facing. The Goverment here after 2014, the BJP-PDP Govt and the LG Rule after that which made tall claims that they have brought in a lot of changes in J&K - water is entering villages here and even in Jammu there is flooding...So, this raises questions about their claims for the last 11 years...Omar Abdullah is among people not for photo session but for expressing sympathies to them, so that they don't feel that they are alone...A blueprint will be made so that people do not have to face this again and again..." Choudhary told reporters.

Advisor to the CM, Nasir Aslam Wani, said that no action had been taken on the flood mitigation plan 11 years ago, further stating that a new plan would be prepared to avoid any such situations in the future.

"Preparation for this (flood) could not have been done in 7-8 months or a year. This was the work for last 11 years. A flood mitigation plan was made 11 years ago...but nothing was done. With just a little rain, in last 10 days, we faced a flood-like situation twice. CM has inspected the area now. We will prepare a renewed flood mitigation plan..." Wani told ANI.

Continuous heavy rainfall has been witnessed in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, with rivers swelling and flash flood-like conditions reported across multiple districts.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
My cousin's house in Srinagar got completely flooded. They lost everything. Thank God no lives were lost but the property damage is huge. Centre should immediately send relief teams and compensation. This happens every year in Kashmir 😔
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Aman W
Finally someone asking the right questions! What exactly was done in 11 years? Flood mitigation plans were made but never implemented. Taxpayers money goes waste while common people suffer. Action should be taken against officials responsible.
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Sarah B
Visiting affected areas is good but what about long-term solutions? Kashmir needs proper drainage systems and flood management infrastructure. Hope this time they actually implement the plans rather than just making announcements.
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Vikram M
At least the administration evacuated people on time. That's a positive. But why does Kashmir face flooding with just 2 days of rain? Climate change is real but our infrastructure planning is outdated. Need modern solutions 🇮🇳
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Nisha Z
Politicians will keep blaming each other while common people suffer. Instead of criticism, all parties should work together for Kashmir's development. Flood prevention should be above politics. Hope the new mitigation plan actually gets implemented!

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