Jammu and Kashmir floods: Rahul Gandhi asks NSUI, Youth Congress volunteers to help out

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today asked all Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal volunteers to pitch in with help for the flood-affected state of Jammu and Kashmir, where nearly four lakh people are still stranded.

The party has also set up a Relief Committee for the state comprising its J-K unit chief Saifuddin Soz, senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and several ministers and leaders.

Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said Rahul has appealed to all Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal volunteers to participate in and help out with the relief efforts. This is the worst floods in six decades in J-K and the death toll in the crisis triggered last week by torrential monsoon rainfall stands at around 200.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has expressed her anguish and deep concern for the victims of the crisis that has also resulted in widespread damage to property and infrastructure in the state. Among the leaders from J-K who have been put on the jumbo panel for relief operations set up by Sonia are deputy CLP leader Mohd Sharif Niaz, deputy chief minister Tara Chand and senior state ministers Taj Mohiuddin, Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Rigzin Zora and Majid Wani.

Jammu and Kashmiris ruled by the National Conference-Congress alliance.

However, the two parties have decided to separately contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi had on Monday rued that an early warning system for floods was not activated in J-K and neither did the state get any warning from the Central Water Commission.