Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Travel News .




THE STANS
India panel slams Kashmir govt over poor flood warning
by Staff Writers
New Delhi (AFP) Dec 22, 2014


An Indian parliamentary panel report on Monday slammed Kashmir state authorities for failing to adequately warn local residents of the deadly floods that swept through the region in September killing more than 450 people.

Tens of thousands of people were left stranded in September when floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains devastated parts of Indian-administered Kashmir and Pakistan's neighbouring Punjab province.

The panel said the government failed to take pre-emptive steps to warn Kashmiris of "more than normal" rainfall, which resulted in a big blow to the state's tourism-reliant economy, according to the Press Trust of India.

"The committee wishes to point out that the 'paradise on earth' has collapsed due to the flood and the government has to rebuild the paradise in order to attract tourists not only from the country but also from abroad," PTI reported.

Indian Kashmir has been a top tourist destination with its pristine Dal Lake, manicured Mughal gardens, glacial valleys and snow-capped Himalayan peaks -- a picturesque region described by a 17th-century visiting emperor as a "paradise on earth".

The number of Western tourists has fallen in recent decades as a result of separatist militant unrest in the disputed region.

But the region has become increasingly popular with Indian holiday-makers who seek a mountain refuge from the scorching summer heat in the country's plains.

Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who came under fire over the slow pace of rescue efforts during the floods, shifted blame to the federal government on Monday.

"If the state government was sleeping, what were the central departments doing? Why did the army not evacuate its personnel from the places that were submerged under flood waters?" Abdullah said in response to the report at a press conference in Kashmir's main city of Srinagar.

"If I have to be blamed for failing in my duties to stop the rain from coming, I accept it then," he said.

The parliamentary committee report also instructed the federal government to "not shrug off its responsibility" in rebuilding flood-hit areas and provide "requisite financial assistance".

Kashmir has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for 440-billion rupees ($6.3-billion) for repairing the flood damage.

The Muslim-majority state's five-phase election ended Saturday, with results due Tuesday.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
News From Across The Stans






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








THE STANS
Pakistan forces kill 27 militants in northwest: military
Islamabad (AFP) Dec 18, 2014
Pakistani forces killed 27 suspected militants in air strikes and a ground operation Thursday in the restive northwest hours after a roadside bomb killed three soldiers, officials said. The government and military have reaffirmed their determination to defeat the Taliban following the school massacre in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Tuesday. Air strikes Thursday killed 17 militant ... read more


THE STANS
Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday

Russian Space Agency Pushes Back Earth Imaging Satellite Launch to Friday

State Spaceports Receive Federal Funding

Arianespace sets new operational benchmarks on its latest Soyuz success

THE STANS
NASA, Planetary Scientists Find Meteoritic Evidence of Mars Water Reservoir

Opportunity drives on in no-flash mode

Australian university students aim to generate first 'breathable' air on Mars

Goddard instrument makes first detection of organic matter on Mars

THE STANS
Moon Express testing compact lunar lander at Kennedy

UK Plans to Drill Into Moon, Explore Feasibility of Manned Base

Carnegie Mellon Unveils Lunar Rover "Andy"

Why we should mine the moon

THE STANS
Swarms of Pluto-Size Objects Kick Up Dust around Adolescent Sun-Like Star

On Pluto's Doorstep, NASA's New Horizons Spacecraft Awakens for Encounter

New Horizons Wakes Up on Pluto's Doorstep

NASA craft to probe Pluto after nine-year journey

THE STANS
Kepler Proves It Can Still Find Planets

NASA's Kepler Reborn, Makes First Exoplanet Find of New Mission

Super-Earth spotted by ground-based telescope, a first

Astronomers spot Pluto-size objects swarming about young sun

THE STANS
Russia successfully test-launches new rocket

India launches biggest ever rocket into space

ISRO to Test-Fly Heaviest Rocket, Crew Module on December 18

RS-25 engine upgrade is no 80s techno flashback

THE STANS
China's Long March puts satellite in orbit on 200th launch

Countdown to China's new space programs begins

China develops new rocket for manned moon mission: media

Service module of China's returned lunar orbiter reaches L2 point

THE STANS
Philae probing comet with hours left on battery

Comet probe in race against time to crown stellar feat

Rosetta comet-landing is Science's 2014 breakthrough

Rosetta Orbiter to Swoop Down On Comet in February




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.