The recent floods, cloudbursts, and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir have wreaked havoc- destroying homes, livelihoods, and the savings of a lifetime. It takes decades to build a house, yet in just a few hours, nature’s fury reduced entire settlements to rubble. Thousands of families are left homeless, helpless, and hopeless — waiting for a helping hand that never seems to arrive.
The question is: How long will the people of Jammu and Kashmir survive only on promises? The Home Minister visited, central teams surveyed the damage, reports were prepared, photos were clicked — but did any of these actions actually bring relief to the victims? Has there been any concrete rehabilitation package that could restore even a fraction of what these families lost?
People still look toward the Prime Minister, hoping that Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and announce a comprehensive relief package. But that hope has begun to fade. When states like Punjab and Uttarakhand received immediate attention and special aid, why has Jammu and Kashmir been left waiting? Are its people lesser citizens in the eyes of the nation?
Another pressing question is: Where is the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir — particularly the ruling BJP’s local leadership? Why has there been such deafening silence from those who claim to represent the people? Is there no one courageous enough to place Jammu’s pain before the Prime Minister? Or has the suffering of this region failed to reach Delhi’s corridors of power?
When the floods struck, several NGOs and volunteers stepped forward, distributing food packets, water bottles, and other essentials. But did anyone think beyond that? Who will help rebuild the homes, furniture, and lives that were swept away? Many of these so-called volunteers disappeared as quickly as they appeared — were their acts of “charity” meant only for social media applause and selfies?
Now winter is approaching, and countless displaced families are struggling in makeshift shelters. The question remains: Does the government have any real plan for them? Will there be concrete measures to rebuild their homes, or will they once again be buried under political slogans and hollow sympathy?
These are not just rhetorical questions — they are cries for justice. The patience of the affected families is running out. Both the administration and civil society must understand that relief is not about distributing rations, it’s about restoring dignity.
It is time to move beyond photo sessions and Facebook posts. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve real rehabilitation, real compensation, and real empathy. Otherwise, history will record this tragedy in one haunting line:
“The floods washed away everything — except the promises.”DD
