DM reaches remote disaster-hit village, orders construction of temporary helipad

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

In the rain-affected village of Batoli in Missral Patti under Vikasnagar Tehsil, the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal deployed round-the-clock manpower and machinery for three months to restore the damaged route.

A temporary helipad will be constructed within 15 days and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) will conduct regular visits to monitor the health of pregnant women and infants. The DM took these decisions during his visit to the affected village on Thursday to ensure continued access and timely medical assistance following the disruption caused by excessive rainfall and landslides. Batoli village had lost road connectivity after a series of landslides, leaving residents cut off from essential services. Bansal reached the village along with his team after crossing several kilometres of rugged terrain. He interacted with local residents, assured them of full support from the administration and instructed officials to address all urgent requirements on-site. He handed over an advance cheque of Rs 3.84 lakh on the spot, providing Rs 4,000 per month to each family for safe accommodation near schools and essential services to ensure temporary relocation.

The DM requested families not to send children on unsafe routes to school and instead arrange nearby accommodation using the provided support. The administration had also restored the Sheru Khala route overnight to improve local accessibility. The DM also allocated Rs 3.98 lakh to the Public Works Department (PWD) for immediate repair work and initiated the process of handing over the Koti-Batoli road to the PWD for long term maintenance. He also ordered a survey for an alternate road connecting Batoli and Than village.

The Vikasnagar SDM was directed to ensure ANMs visit regularly for maternal and child health checkups. Medical emergency arrangements will be made in the village until full restoration is complete.

The Tehsildar has been asked to conduct camps in the area to resolve local issues and 20 solar lights have been approved from the DM’s quota for immediate installation. Bansal informed that letters have been issued to the PWD secretary for a ropeway bridge and other permanent infrastructure solutions. The administration will continue to coordinate with local residents to identify suitable land for the temporary helipad, he added.