A delegation of journalists from Jammu and Kashmir today highlighted the problems, including shortage of food items and drinking water, being faced by the people of the flood-hit state at an interaction organised by the Press Council of India (PCI) here.
Speaking at the interaction, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Press Association G Hassan Kaloo said the floods were of colossal magnitude and that the infrastructure of the state has been badly hit.
Elaborating on the acute shortage the state is facing of various necessary goods and amenities, Kaloo said that the situation was such that even infants didn't have baby food. He also spoke about the need for setting up a command centre and emphasised that it should be ensured that funds meant for relief are not misused.
He said hospitals in the state were also facing shortage of vital medicines and equipment.
Another journalist, Naseer Khora, said the floods have caused loss of lives, destruction of crops, livestock, infrastructure and damaged road connectivity. He said steps should be taken to ensure that diseases do not spread in the coming days when the water recedes.
Another member of the delegation told the gathering that an efficient mechanism to analyse and predict the impact of weather and rains should be there.
PCI chairperson Justice (retd) Markandey Katju, Members of Parliament Ram Jethmalani and Majeed Memon, and senior journalist Vinod Mehta were among those present in the meet.
Addressing the gathering, Katju said people wanted to contribute to the relief work but they needed to be made aware about whom to send their help. He emphasised the need for coordinated relief work. He said unauthorised constructions had hampered drainage systems of many cities which is a cause of concern.
Memon and Jethmalani assured the Kashmiri delegates that all efforts would be made to provide relief. Jethmalani emphasised that relief should be provided to the poor who don't have resources.
The delegation of journalists had yesterday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and presented him a note on the situation in the state.
