Centre urged to declare North India floods as ‘national calamity’
NEW DELHI — The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expressed deep concern over the devastating floods and landslides across North India, which have caused heavy loss of lives and property. On Saturday, the party demanded that the disaster be declared a “National Calamity” and urged the government to launch relief and rehabilitation measures on a war footing.
According to the CPI(M), Punjab is among the worst affected, with all 23 districts declared flood-hit. Reports say around 3 lakh acres of crops across 1,655 villages have been damaged and over 4 lakh people affected. In Haryana, about 2.5 lakh acres of crops across 12 districts have been destroyed, while Jammu & Kashmir has seen thousands of acres of paddy washed away.
The party said Himachal Pradesh has suffered massive destruction, with more than 320 deaths, many missing, and extensive damage to infrastructure, houses, livestock, vehicles, and apple orchards in Shimla and Kullu. Uttarakhand too has faced flash floods and landslides, leaving several people missing. Parts of Rajasthan and Delhi have also been hit.
The Left party accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to deal with the crisis effectively. It said party teams are active in relief operations across affected states and called upon its cadres to step up efforts and collect funds to support the victims.
