Srinagar Oct 08: On 4th September, Jammu and Kashmir, including a few other states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, were
hit with torrential monsoons that led to serious flood-like situations near the Chenab and Tawi rivers.
There
have been a lot of stakeholders in the damage caused by these situations, like people residing in the low-lying
areas, central government bodies like NDMA, local government, local administration, and other affected people. Due to damage and danger, several low-lying areas, schools, and the national highway connecting
Jammu to Kashmir have shut down.
Impact on Agriculture and Economy
The effects of the floods have also been on the paddy agriculture due to excessive water clogging. Heavy losses of property have been reported. The economy and purchasing power of the people have gone down. The shutdown of the national highways has also caused a blockage in the apple trade from Kashmir, which has to be imported through planes. Heavy traffic has disrupted truck movement on the Ramban highway, and traffic jams have been reported in these areas. Jammu and Kashmir have seen food and water shortages, displaced people, and damaged homes.
Economic Distress
The floods have also triggered economic distress in Jammu and Kashmir, with blocked supply lines and rising essential costs. The relief work, hence, is not just about rescuing people, but also helping people with the aftermath of these situations.
Effect on people in general.
The flood caused not only physical damage but also emotional damage to people. They felt unsafe in their own
home, wondering if things would ever go back to normal again. Children crying out of hunger, farmers crying for their losses, and adults trying to save whatever they could all left an emotional turmoil from which returning is very tough, and such situations will be anticipated by the people again.
Government Response
As the government agencies race to handle the situation, providing food and shelter to these people, the situation demanded a beacon of hope other than government bodies to provide people with help.
NGOs Step In
This critical time saw the rise of many Non-Government Organizations that stepped up to help these people.
These NGOs have been working tirelessly, supplying kits, rations, and even emotional support to the people who are affected by the floods. They identify the most vulnerable segments of the population—the elderly, women, and children—in addition to helping the people.
Youth Club of Vijaypur’s Contribution
Amongst the many NGOs that stood up, one was the Youth Club of Vijaypur, which worked tirelessly,distributing rations and water and helping people get safe shelters. While NGOs like Ababeel in Doda have been assisting people in getting medical aid, small youth-run NGOs have provided help at the grassroots level by supplying essentials to the needy. This NGO has already been very active during COVID-19, reaching out to 100+ families in the Samba district with dry rations. It has also been actively participating in various discussions with the Deputy Commissioner of Samba regarding essential topics in the district, such as the menace of drugs, promotion of tourism sites, the need to enhance sports activities, etc. It has been actively donating money to the DC for the relief fund to ensure that people of Samba receive proper relief from the cloudbursts and floods.
As the situation is toning down a bit, we have not just the government bodies, but also small local NGOs like the Youth Club of Vijaypur to thank for their service. Even though the emotional and physical scars run deep,
NGO’s like these prove that it is the strength of ordinary people that helps communities rise again, stronger and
more united.
Torrential Monsoons Hit Jammu & Kashmir: By Students of Goa Institute of Management: Ananya Mahajan, Parth Sharma, and Shravan Shetty
