Ignored, flood victims left to fend for themselves

Updated At : 05:06 PM Nov 30, 2014 IST

A file photo of a flood-hit family makes tea in a makeshift kitchen outside her temporary tent on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Tribune photo: Amin War

Amin Masoodi

Srinagar, November 30

Even as ministers and MLAs are busy seeking votes for the Assembly polls, homeless flood victims are forced to face bone-chilling cold in tents and temporary shelters in Srinagar.

The state authorities especially MLAs and ministers on the other hand are busy in election campaigning, leaving flood victims to fend for themselves.

“We are spending sleepless nights in extreme cold conditions in these temporary shelters. The government has ignored us and no official or minister has visited us for past over a month,” said Nayeem Ahmad Magray from Padshahi Bagh Srinagar.

“We have decided to boycott the upcoming elections in protest against the official apathy. Desperate to get to power again, these bureaucrats ignored us when we needed them the most,” he added.

“It is time to settle scores with politicians. We will boycott elections so that politicians realise the power of a man on street,” said Javid Ahmad from Rajbgah.

As if this was not enough, the victims are also facing shortage of power and water in tented structures. “We are made to suffer even for a drop of water. For the past three days, the water tanker has not visited this area. Power is also playing hide and seek and solar lighting is not working properly due to sub-zero temperatures,” said Zareefa Begum from Jawahar Nagar.

Ignored, flood victims left to fend for themselves

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