Tarigami urges govt to compensate families hit by windstorm, snowfall

Srinagar, Jan 24: CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami on Saturday urged the government to immediately assess the damage caused to residential houses and infrastructure due to strong winds and snowfall across the Kashmir Valley and ensure timely compensation to affected families.
Tarigami said that strong gusts of wind, followed by snowfall in several parts of the Valley, caused extensive damage to rooftops, power infrastructure and other structures, leading to widespread hardship, particularly in rural and far off areas. He stressed the need for a comprehensive, on ground assessment so that families who suffered losses receive prompt relief and compensation.
The CPI(M) leader said that while snowfall is a blessing and holds great environmental and agricultural significance, the government must ensure that people do not suffer due to lack of preparedness. He said restoration of basic services and connectivity should be treated as an immediate priority during harsh winter conditions.
Tarigami said road connectivity to several villages has been affected due to snowfall, leaving many interior and remote areas cut off. He urged the authorities to deploy adequate manpower and machinery to clear roads on priority and restore access to snowbound villages at the earliest, particularly in hilly and far flung areas where inhabitants face severe difficulties.
He further said that electricity supply was initially disrupted due to strong winds and later affected further by snowfall. He stressed that uninterrupted power supply is critical during winter and called upon the concerned departments to ensure early restoration of electricity in all affected areas.
Tarigami said the government must respond swiftly and sensitively to the problems faced by people during winter and ensure that relief measures, restoration of essential services and road connectivity are treated as priority issues to ease public hardship across the Valley. [KNT]