Kashmir floods: Worst crisis state has faced in living memory, says Omar

Srinagar: Describing the current floods in the state as the worst in 109 years, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the government will reach out to all people for rescuing them and then rehabilitate them. Acknowledging the anger and frustration of those affected by the disaster that struck the state four days ago, he maintained that the state authorities as well as the armed forces were doing everything to help those in distress. [caption id=“attachment_1704789” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Omar Abdullah. AFP[/caption] Rejecting criticism that the administration was not prepared or had not reached all the affected people, Omar said nobody could plan for an unpredicable crisis and all efforts were being made to first rescue all. “We are doing whatever we can do in tackling the worst crisis the state has faced in living memory…In this crisis situation, our first priority is to rescue people. Rehabilitation and other things come later,” he told Doordarshan. When told about the anger among the people over not getting enough help from the administration, the Chief Minister said, “I can understand their anger and pain. It is not wrong on their part. I don’t blame them. It is a crisis of unpredictable proportion. Whatever is possible and whatever is in my capacity we will do. “I know people have lost their belongings, farmers have lost their rice crops. My effort will be to make them stand on their own feet again..” PTI