Flood affected Charsoo Awantipora residents blocked National Highway

Flood affected Charsoo Awantipora residents blocked National Highway

Accused NC Sarpanch of distributing relief among blue-eyed

Saahil Suhail

Srinagar, September 25: Flood affected Charsoo residents in South Kashmir’s Awantipora area; Thursday staged forceful protest demonstration on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway against the Omar Abdullah government alleging favoritism in distributing the relief.

Residents whose residential houses collapsed due to devastating floods blocked Srinagar-Jammu National Highway at Charsoo few kilometers from Awantipora police headquarters.

Flood affected residents of the village raised high pitched slogans against Omar Abdullah government for its failure in rescuing and providing relief to affected families. Residents halted the movement of vehicular traffic on busy national highway for hours together resulting chaos, traffic jam and serve problems to the passengers.

Residents alleged that state government not only failed in rescuing the trapped souls but also failed in providing relief to them during crisis and accused their local Sarpanch affiliated with National conference of distributing relief among his workers only.

“Our local National Conference Sarpnach Mohd Ramzan dumped the relief and then distributed among only 20 families of the village while as whole village stands affected due to floods.” A resident, Mushtaq Ahmad told Early Times.

He said that Pulwama district administration was too ignoring the flood affected population on the directions of senior National conference leaders.

“During rescue too army helped only those who are affiliated with some political parties and on the directions of same sarpanch hundreds of families were left out on the mercy of Allah.” Another resident Shabir Ahmad Bhat said.

Residents demanded an answer from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as how his Sarpanch provided relief to only 20 families of the village when whole village stands affected due to floods.

“Omar Abdullah must answer. Is this relief only for National conference workers.” Residents demanded.

Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was restored by senior police officials who arrived on the spot and assured that they will take up the issue with their higher-ups who will later communicate to state government.

Meanwhile residents of Pampore also blocked Srinagar-Jammu National highway against the government for its failure in providing relief to flood affected families.