MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed on Friday asked Islamabad to find some avenues to succour the victims of the worst flood in decades in Indian held part of the disputed Himalayan region.

“The government of Pakistan should find out ways to extend help to the affected Kashmiris in Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu… Its mandatory… Its our duty,” he said at a press conference in his office.

“Even if the aid for AJK is slashed by 50 per cent, no worries. But give 110 per cent to our brethren across the divide,” he added.

Also read: Hundreds of thousands marooned by floods in India-held Kashmir

Mr Majeed denounced Indian prime minister’s offer to help flood victims in AJK as a charade and said by making this offer, Narendra Modi had actually played to the gallery.

“What can they do here when they have done nothing (to help out victims) in the part of Kashmir under their occupation? If the Indian leader is sympathetic to Kashmiris, he should grant them the right to self-determination which his country has usurped at the strength of its military might,” Mr Majeed said.

“We cannot accept anything at the cost of our integrity,” he added.

The AJK premier also made an appeal to expatriate Kashmiris to generously donate for flood victims in India-held Kashmir.

He said the government of Pakistan and Foreign Office should also speak on this issue, as their voice would be more effective.

Giving a brief overview of the losses in AJK, Mr Majeed said 66 people had lost their lives and 111 wounded in rain-related incidents.

Around 35,746 people were affected in 120 villages where 2,459 houses, 189 shops and 31 watermills were completely damaged, and 4,584 houses were partially damaged, apart from the killing of 1,870 cattle.

“These losses are estimated to be worth Rs600 million. However, the infrastructure losses are too high, estimated to the tune of Rs4.31 billion,” he said.

The AJK premier said all major arteries had been cleared except for Haveli-Rawalakot, Hattian Bala-Chakothi and Leepa Valley roads.

Link roads within Haveli districts were still blocked, he added.

He said the highway department had been directed to employ not only the available official earth moving machinery, but also hire it from private sector so as to clear the blocked roads as early as possible.

Mr Majeed pointed out that water level in Mangla dam had gone as high as 1,242 feet, and had water been released from the reservoir from time to time to create space for floodwater, most of the losses from the swollen Jhelum River could have been averted.

“We had been pointing it out, but no heed was paid. Its negligence on the part of Wapda,” he said.

To a question, he asserted that the government would take serious action on substandard constructions that were swept away by flash floods in a jiffy.

“Whether contractors or officials, no one, found guilty, will be spared,” he said.

He made it clear that Rs1 million compensation would not be given to dependants of those who had drowned while catching fuel wood from flooded water channels in defiance of Section 144.

The AJK premier expressed his gratitude to the people and prime minister of Pakistan for showing exemplary concern for the flood affected people in AJK.

He also thanked the PPP government in Sindh for donating Rs100 million to AJK for them.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2014