Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra visits cloudburst-hit Chisoti in Kishtwar

• Expresses deep shock over tragedy, questions Govt. preparedness; seeks National Highway status for Kishtwar-Machail Road and special relief package

KISHTWAR: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President, Shri Tariq Hameed Karra, visited Chisoti village in Paddar, Kishtwar district, to assess the ground situation following the devastating cloudburst that claimed 63 lives, left over 100 injured, and many still missing.

Karra was accompanied by Working President Raman Bhalla, senior Congress leader and former minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, former MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta, Sham Lal Bhagat and a large contingent of local leadership. The leaders met bereaved families, expressed solidarity with the victims, and reviewed the ongoing rescue and relief operations.

Speaking to the media, the JKPCC Chief termed the incident “very tragic” and raised serious concerns over the failure of preventive measures. “An advisory was issued 48 hours ago, but the question remains – why were people allowed to go there even after that? There are certainly gaps in the rescue operations,” Karra said.

He criticised the Government for the inordinate delay in construction of the Kishtwar-Machail Road, which was sanctioned over 12 years ago but has still not been declared a National Highway. “If the bridge at Chisoti had been completed, the scale of casualties could have been minimised. Many lives would have been saved,” he asserted.

Karra also blamed unchecked deforestation and environmental negligence for worsening natural disasters in the region. “We must realise that playing with nature has dangerous consequences,” he warned. The PCC President urged the Centre to immediately announce a special relief and rehabilitation package for the victims of the Kishtwar cloudburst and flash floods. He emphasised that the magnitude of the tragedy demanded urgent intervention from the Government of India in coordination with the UT administration.

Lauding the role of locals, volunteers and rescue teams, Karra said, “The residents and volunteers extended immediate help and worked shoulder to shoulder with the rescue teams. Their courage and solidarity in this hour of crisis is commendable.” He directed Congress cadres, especially the youth, to remain actively engaged in assisting the victims in full cooperation with the administration.

Karra reiterated that the Congress party would not remain silent and would continue to highlight the concerns of the affected families at every forum.“This tragedy has exposed the infrastructure deficit and lack of preparedness. The people of Kishtwar deserve better. We will press the Government to fulfil its responsibility and ensure long-term safety measures,” he affirmed.

Congress State Working President, Raman Bhalla, while expressing condolences said, “We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and stand firmly with the affected families in this hour of grief. That is why I visited today – to assure them that they are not alone.”

Senior Congress leader and former minister, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, who has been camping in the area, stressed the urgency of expediting relief and rescue. “Our entire team came here with a clear message – the rescue work must be completed quickly, and rehabilitation must begin without delay,” Saroori said.
 
Besides top PCC leaders, several other prominent Congress functionaries joined the visit, including DCC President Adv. Asif Naqeeb, Irshad Ahmed Sheikh, Piyaray Lal Shan, Sanjeev Sharma, Neeraj Gupta, Firdous Mingnoo, Nayar Butt, Anas Munshi, Javed Ahmed Lone, Siri Lal Parihar, Rangeel Singh, Ali Mohd Naik, Ayaz Malik, Nawaz Ahmed, Mohd Iqbal Keen, Tariq Masood Malik, Noor Hussain, Ravi Kumar, Zaffer Sheikh, Irfan Ahmed, Altaf Ahmed, Mashkoor Ahmed, Dr. Junaid, Tashi Chering, Fafa Tundup, Amar Singh, Vidya Lal, Vidya Sagar, Dev Raj, Daleep Parihar, Daleep Sharma, Iqbal Ganai, Jindu Ram, Rafiq Shah, Irfan Shah, Khursheed Ahmed, Mushtaq Sheikh, Naveed Kichloo, Ejaz Ganai, Arshad Giri, Abbas Malik, Nazir Ganai, Haris Shafiq Ahmed, Yasir Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Arshad Hussain and others.