CM Omar Questions Jammu Kashmir’s Flood Readiness

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed deep concern over the Valley’s vulnerability to floods, questioning why lessons from the devastating 2014 deluge had not been learnt despite the passage of a decade.

Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said there was a pressing need to understand the shortcomings in the system. “We need to know where we are lacking and why we have not learnt any lessons after the 2014 floods. Where did the money go that was provided to us, what is our dredging capacity, and why do we get scared of floods after just two days of rainfall?” he asked

The Chief Minister stressed that the situation cannot continue as it is. “We can’t live like this, we can’t live in fear every time it rains. I will speak to the officers to find out what exactly has been done after the 2014 floods, where we are falling short, and what measures need to be taken to safeguard our people,” Omar said.

His remarks came at a time when Kashmir Valley was once again pushed to the brink of floods after a spell of heavy rains this week. Several low-lying areas in Srinagar and adjoining districts were inundated, prompting fresh concerns about preparedness and infrastructure gaps. The Jammu region witnessed a massive flood that caused widespread damage. [KNT]