Jammu, 2 September (H.S.): Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, former Cabinet Minister and vice president of Jammu and Kashmir BJP, visited the flood and heavy rain-affected areas of Budhal and Khawas tehsils of district Rajouri. The residents of these areas have suffered significant losses due to heavy rains, thunderstorms, landslides, and sinking land.

Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali visited the Budhal area, where a substantial chunk of land is sinking, affecting over 20 families residing there. He urged the district administration to relocate these families to safer areas to prevent any untoward incidents in case of further rains. The damage to property, including fully and partially damaged houses, cultivable land, and standing crops, is estimated to be worth crores of rupees. In most areas, people lack the means to reconstruct their houses. A similar situation prevails in Kangota village, Budhal, where four houses have been fully damaged and the affected families are living under the open sky.

Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali also visited the Gundhi Panchayat, where residents have suffered significant losses, including damage to their houses, and a substantial chunk of land is sinking, causing hardship to the population.

Furthermore, he visited Bhella Kanyaz in Khawas, where residents have also suffered significant losses. The house of one Tara Singh has been totally damaged due to landslides on the Khawas Keri road.

During his visit, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali interacted with the affected residents and assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to the authorities. He stated that the Home Minister of India is scheduled to visit the area and is expected to announce adequate compensation for the affected families.

Chowdhary Zulfkar criticized the UT Government for its failure to provide adequate compensation, citing the insufficient amount of Rs 1.4 lakh for fully damaged houses, which is not sufficient to lay the foundation for new houses.

He demanded adequate compensation for the losses incurred and the allotment of safe land for the relocation of affected familie

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar