Srinagar, July 11: The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (Regd) (KTMF) has expressed profound grief and deep concern over the widespread devastation caused by the recent cloudburst and flash floods in the Thathri and Premnagar areas of District Doda. The federation has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to immediately announce a comprehensive relief, compensation and rehabilitation package for the affected traders, shopkeepers and residents.

In a joint statement issued to the press, KTMF Chairman Abrar Khan and President Hilal Ahmad Mandoo said the natural calamity has caused extensive damage to residential houses, commercial establishments, shops, vehicles and public infrastructure, leaving hundreds of families and members of the trading community in severe financial distress.
Expressing solidarity with the affected people of the Chenab Valley, the KTMF leadership directed its Doda Unit, including the Doda Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by Mairaj Khalid Banday, Zaheer Ahmed Sofi and Mansoor Ahmed Khan, to remain actively engaged with the affected communities. The local team has already visited the disaster-hit areas to assess the situation and provide immediate support. It will continue its visits to prepare a detailed ground assessment report and identify the immediate and long-term assistance that can be extended by the federation for the rehabilitation of affected traders.
The federation stressed that the unprecedented scale of destruction demands urgent and extraordinary intervention from the government. It appealed to the Hon'ble Chief Minister, who also heads the State Disaster Management Authority, to ensure the immediate deployment of special assessment teams for a transparent evaluation of commercial and structural losses. KTMF maintained that routine relief measures would be inadequate in view of the magnitude of the disaster and called for adequate compensation to enable traders to rebuild their businesses and livelihoods.
KTMF leadership stated "The traders of Thathri and Premnagar have suffered enormous losses within a short of time. Many have seen their lifetime investments buried under mud, debris and boulders. The government must ensure that every affected trader receives fair compensation and that no genuine victim is left out of the relief process,".
The federation further announced that an apex delegation, led by Chairman Abrar Khan and President Hilal Ahmad Mandoo, will soon visit the affected areas of Thathri and Premnagar to personally assess the ground situation, interact with the affected traders and residents, review the assessment reports prepared by the local unit and take up their concerns with the highest authorities to ensure timely relief and rehabilitation.