PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
In view of the consistent rainfall and heavy rain warning issued for the coming days, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to accord top priority to public safety while directing all departments to work in an alert and coordinated manner to effectively deal with any probable disaster or emergency situation. On the CM’s directions, the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman held a meeting on Thursday to review the impact of rains in the State. He directed officials to work in an alert mode 24×7 considering the weather alert issued by the meteorological centre for the next few days. Considering the red alert issued for three districts and orange alert for three other districts for Friday, he directed all the district magistrates, police, State Disaster Response Force, Public Works Department, drinking water and power departments, Health and other departments concerned to remain fully alert. He also appealed to the citizens to stay alert and observe necessary precautions.
Stating that the CM has issued special instructions regarding the Char Dham Yatra, Suman said that the pilgrims should be stopped at safe locations in case of very bad weather or the pilgrimage becoming risky due to heavy rain. Facilities for the pilgrims including food, drinking water, medicines, milk for children, toilets, accommodation and other essential facilities should be arranged at such holding points. The pilgrims should be allowed to travel further once the weather returns to normalcy and the road becomes fully secure. Top priority should also be accorded to the safety of people living on riversides and seasonal streams, and if needed, such families should be shifted immediately to secure locations. The safety of labourers and others at construction sites should also be ensured. If needed, the work should be stopped temporarily and people should be shifted from such sites to secure locations.
Seeking information about affected roads, drinking water and electricity supply, the secretary said that priority should be given to reopening the roads blocked by rain or landslide.
