Tahir Mushtaq
Ramban, (DD)Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday faced angry protests from local residents during his visit to the landslide-hit areas of Ramban district. The visit, intended to assess the scale of destruction caused by recent landslides and flash floods, quickly turned tense as residents demanded faster relief and accused the administration of neglect.
Although the Chief Minister had planned to reach the area by helicopter, poor weather conditions forced him to travel by road. On his arrival, dozens of villagers gathered near the inspection point, raising slogans and holding placards calling for immediate assistance.
“We have lost everything — our homes, our fields, even access to drinking water,” said Mohammad Rafiq, a local resident from Digdol village. “The administration came late, and whatever little help came wasn’t enough. We are just surviving.”
Another protestor, Nasreen Akhtar, a school teacher, voiced concerns about safety: “Landslides have cut us off from the highway. Children can’t go to school. Medical emergencies are a nightmare. We don’t want sympathy; we need action.”
In response, CM Omar Abdullah acknowledged the public’s distress and promised immediate measures. “I understand the pain and frustration. I assure you that the government is mobilising all resources. Restoration work on the highway and rehabilitation packages are being expedited,” he said while addressing the gathering.
He also announced the deployment of special relief teams and additional funds for temporary shelter, food supplies, and road restoration.
The recent landslides in Ramban have claimed several lives and rendered dozens homeless. With many stretches of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway either buried or washed away, traffic and relief movement remain hampered. Authorities continue to work round the clock to clear debris and reopen crucial link (DD)