National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, today conducted an extensive visit to the rain and flood-affected areas of Jammu North Assembly Constituency, with a particular focus on the KHERI area, which is witnessing soil sinking, cracks in houses, land and continuous erosion posing a grave threat to life and property.
During his visit, Sadhotra interacted with the affected families, took stock of the situation and heard to their first hand experiences. He expressed serious concern over the alarming situation, saying that many houses are developing dangerous cracks while some structures are on the verge of collapse.
The locals apprised him of their constant fear due to the unstable soil conditions aggravated by the recent spell of heavy rains and floods.
Sadhotra said that the unfolding situation in Kheri is a stark reminder that floods and rains are no longer routine seasonal phenomena but are manifesting in unexpected forms, leading to soil sinking, sudden landslides, and unusual erosion patterns in areas not earlier known to be vulnerable. He said that this new challenge requires the government to go beyond traditional methods of relief and rehabilitation.
Calling for an exhaustive scientific and technical survey, Sadhotra hoped that authorities will deploy expert teams to assess the depth of damage and risk in the affected localities. There is a need for a holistic strategy that combines immediate relief, long-term rehabilitation and scientific interventions to prevent further disasters,” he added.The National Conference Additional General Secretary stressed that relocation of families living in endangered areas to safer locations should be prioritized. He called for devising an “out-of-box solution” that takes into account the unpredictability of such natural calamities in newer geographies.
Sadhotra reiterated that the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government has always been serious about addressing challenges of natural calamities and remains deeply committed to mitigating the sufferings of the people. He said the party has a proven track record of standing by the people during testing times and will continue to play its role with sincerity, responsibility, and dedication.
He said that natural calamities should not be seen merely as isolated incidents but as part of a larger climate and environmental challenge, which requires a comprehensive response from all stakeholders—government agencies, civil society, and local people.
Reassuring the people of the party’s steadfastness, Sadhotra said National Conference will extend every possible support to the affected families. In difficult situations, the party has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the people, and will continue to do so with greater vigor, he added.
Sadhotra appealed to the administration to take urgent preventive measures, set up dedicated monitoring cells and create a mechanism for timely alerts and early evacuation in vulnerable zones to avoid loss of lives and property in the future.Those accompanying Mr Sadhotra during his visit to the area included Raghubir Singh Manhas District President, Ch Bagh Ali Zonal Vice President, Randhir Singh District Secretary, Rakesh Sharma YNC District President, Ch Mohd Razak, Ch Abdul Gani. National Conference Additional General Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra visited Kheri to see loss of houses due to land sinking.