Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat sought information from the disaster management secretary about the search and rescue operation underway in the disaster affected area of Chamoli district. He directed that there should be no lack of items to meet the daily requirements in the affected areas. The dependents of the deceased who have been identified should be provided the ex-gratia without delay. The DNA record of bodies not identified should be preserved safely, he said.
The CM also condoled the death of police head constable Manoj Chowdhary and constable Balvir Singh Gadia who lost their lives in the disaster at Tapovan. Their last rites were conducted with state honours on Wednesday. Expressing grief at the deaths caused by the disaster at Raini and Tapovan, the CM said that the search and rescue operation is being conducted at full capacity to reach the missing persons. The operation is being monitored continuously at the higher level, he added.
Meanwhile, efforts are being conducted relentlessly to also reach the 25 to 35 persons stuck in a tunnel of the Tapovan-Vishnugad project since the disaster struck on Sunday. About 100 personnel of the SDRF, 176 of the NDRF, 425 of the ITBP, one team of the SSB, 125 army personnel, two army medical teams and four medical teams of Uttarakhand along with 16 firemen have been deployed in the affected area. The severing of road links to 13 villages has affected 360 families to whom ration kits, medical aid and other items are being provided by helicopter. Alternate arrangements with trolley and Bailey bridge are being made for Tapovan, Raini and Juagwad villages.
Thursday, 11 February 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
