Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 20

Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Monday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government of failing to respond adequately to the devastation caused by floods and landslides in the region.

Sharma criticised Abdullah for chairing a flood-review meeting remotely with officials while travelling between Delhi and Jammu, calling the exercise a “drama” and questioning the government’s commitment to relief and restoration.

He made the comments while visiting flood-affected areas in Rajouri to assess damage.

Sharma alleged that elected representatives from the ruling coalition were absent from the ground while residents faced deaths and widespread damage.

Congress MLA from Rajouri, Iftkhar Ahmed, rejected the criticism, accusing Sharma of politicising a disaster.

Ahmed said he had been in Rajouri since the beginning of the crisis, working on restoration efforts, and urged the opposition leader to focus on securing a relief package for affected families rather than engaging in political attacks.

The exchange came as the death toll from rain-related incidents in Poonch and Rajouri rose sharply and authorities struggled to restore electricity and other essential services.