IMRAN SHAH
Kishtwar, DD: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Saturday visited the remote village of Margi in the Warwan area of District Kishtwar to assess the devastation caused by recent flash floods and incessant rains.
Accompanied by Haji Tariq Keen, District President Ravi Parihar, General Secretary Prashant Bhandari, Minority Morcha President Mansoor Mattoo, Samir Ganaie, Santosh Bhandari, officials of the local administration, and BJP activists, Sharma braved difficult terrain and disrupted routes to reach Margi and interact with the affected families.
The natural calamity has caused extensive destruction in the region, washing away several houses and crippling road connectivity, leaving the entire population cut off from the district. Many families have been rendered homeless, facing acute shortages of shelter, food, drinking water, medicines, and other basic amenities.
Interacting with the residents, Sharma described the scale of destruction as “heartbreaking.” He said many families have lost everything, while roads, supplies, and healthcare facilities stand disrupted. He assured the villagers that he would raise the issue at the highest levels and press for urgent relief and rehabilitation measures.
“Relief must reach people now. Temporary shelters, emergency food supplies, medicines, and restoration of road links must be treated as top priority,” Sharma said, calling upon the UT administration and disaster management authorities to immediately deploy emergency teams, including doctors and engineers, to the area.
He also appealed to NGOs and civil society groups to extend support to the flood-affected population of Warwan. “The people of Margi and adjoining areas will not be left alone in this hour of crisis. I will personally monitor the relief efforts,” Sharma assured.
The LoP further emphasized the need for a long-term plan to strengthen infrastructure in remote and vulnerable regions like Warwan. “Our remote areas need better preparedness, not just sympathy after disaster strikes,” he said.DD