As soon as information about the flood caused by glacier break at Reni near Joshimath in Chamoli district was received, the state government issued a high alert all along the Alaknanda and Ganga rivers from Chamoli district to Haridwar district. Had the water reached the plains, the damage could have been much more if the riverside residents had remained there. However, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat informed that the water was clean near Rudraprayag -unlike the debris and muck carrying waters in the affected areas. Further, as soon as the information about the disaster was received, the water in the Srinagar hydro power project dam was drained in order to accommodate more water. On returning to Dehradun after inspecting the affected areas, the CM went to the disaster management control room with senior officials to check the situation and efforts being undertaken. Earlier, the Uttarakhand director general of police Ashok Kumar also reached the affected site to monitor and direct the rescue and relief operation. Chief secretary Om Prakash and other officials monitored the situation from the disaster management control room.
In Dehradun, the district magistrate Ashish Kumar Srivastava issued a high alert. Srivastava reached Rishikesh and directed announcements to warn the locals living near the Ganga river. According to DM, all the departments concerned were put on high alert as soon as the administration received the news of the avalanche in Joshimath. The officials informed that the water level in the Ganga rising was a possibility in the plains, which could pose risk to residents in proximity of the river. Considering this, many people living near the banks of Ganga in Rishikesh were shifted for their safety to camps where the administration is providing them with the necessary amenities. The administration in Dehradun was in direct contact with the district administration of Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Pauri districts.
Monday, 08 February 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
