Sajjad Shaheen anguished over massive devastation caused by incessant rains in Pogal-Maligam ;

Seeks compensation to the affected families , Ex-gratia relief to the family of man killed by shooting stone

RAMBAN, 23 July: National Conference (NC) leader and District President, Ramban Mr Sajjad Shaheen on Sunday expressed concern over losses caused to infrastructure, private property and the crops due to recent incessant rains in Banihal and its peripheral areas particularly in Pogal, Kunda, Maligam, Gohala, Paristan and other areas. He sought immediate survey of the damages so that the affected people are compensated .

“The entire district of Ramban in general and Banihal assembly constituency in particular was hit by the incessant rains, causing enormous sufferings to the people during the last two days”, Shaheen said in a statement. He added that the rain has caused a complete devastation to the standing maize crops besides damage to various houses and nallah bridges resulting in huge loss and inconvenience to the people in the entire Ramban district particularly in Banihal constituency.

Shaheen expressed solidarity with the rain affected families, who have suffered losses to their property and crops and has emphasised on the concerned governmental agencies to provide financial assistance to the sufferers.

The District President also sought immediate restoration of infrastructure, especially the road-network, saying the mobility of the people belonging to peripheral areas has got hugely affected.

He said most of the major roads have been blocked due to land and mud sliding caused by heavy rains and has multiplied people’s problems living in these areas. The affected roads include Banihal-Mangit road, Makerkot-Pogal -Panchal-Allinbas road, Ukharhal -Senabatti road, and Harog to Sumar -Bajmasta-Varnhal road.

He also sought restoration of essential services like power and drinking water besides stocking adequate rations at the CAPD depots.

Shaheen said that the rain and flood hit areas of the constituency were without electricity for last two to three days. Those include Khari, Trigam, Sarachi, Mahu-Mangit, Neel, Chamalwas-Chaknarwah, Pogal-Maligam, Paristan, Bingara, Chaka-Sarbagni, Amkote, Thachi, Phagow, Duligam, Sumar, Hinjhaal, Chanjlu, Sarbagni, Chaka, Lamber, Niwgam, Kaskoot, Sangaldan, Bajmasta, Chachwa, Indh, Sangaldan, Dharam, Rajgarh, Ramsoo , Varnhal, and Gandhri.

Shaheen further said that the hard toil of farmers stands ruined and they have nothing to look for, except assistance from the govt. He hoped that the government will rise to the occasion and come to the rescue of the farming community besides other affected people and fully compensate the losses.

Shaheen has also conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family of Abdul Rasheed Bhat resident of the village Chevli, Paristan who was hit by rolling stones and died on the spot while heading towards his water mill amid heavy rains on Saturday morning. He also urged the L/Governor Administration to provide adequate ex-gratia relief in favour of the deceased family members.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)