Budgam, July 25: Owners of a shopping complex and traders who lost their businesses in the recent flash floods in Beerwah have urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to provide adequate compensation, waive bank loans and allow reconstruction of the damaged complex at the same site.
The shopping complex, located in the heart of Beerwah town, was completely destroyed after flash floods swept through the area, causing extensive damage to more than 32 shops and leaving dozens of families without a source of livelihood.
Ghulam Mohammad Wani, one of the owners of the shopping complex, said the entire structure was reduced to ruins in the disaster.
“The complex housed 32 shops, all of which have suffered extensive damage. We urge the government to provide suitable compensation and grant us permission to reconstruct the complex at the same location so that business activities can resume,” Wani said.
Among the affected traders is Mohammad Akbar, whose mobile phone business was completely destroyed in the floods. He said the disaster has pushed many families into financial uncertainty.
“More than 32 shops have been completely damaged. We had established these businesses to earn a livelihood and support our families. We hope the Jammu and Kashmir Government will provide financial assistance, fair compensation, and facilitate reconstruction so that we can restart our businesses. the government intervention is essential to help them recover from the losses, restore their businesses, and bring normalcy back,” he said
Another affected shopkeeper, Abdul Aziz Sofi, said his son’s medical shop was among those badly damaged in the flooding.
According to Sofi, more than 40 people were running businesses from the shopping complex before it was destroyed.
“The families of the affected shopkeepers are facing a severe financial crisis as they have had no source of income for the past five days. They are anxiously waiting for government assistance, compensation, and permission to rebuild their shops at the same location,” Sofi said.
The affected shopkeepers said immediate government intervention is essential to help them recover from the losses, restore their businesses, and bring normalcy back to their lives following the devastating flash floods.
