Sunday, 14 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
A man was booked for spreading false information about a disaster in Dharchula area of Pithoragarh on Friday. The case was registered against the person on the directions of the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman. The secretary said that information regarding a cloudburst at Kulagad in Dharchula, a bridge collapsing and a dam forming on the river was received on various social media platforms on Friday evening. The State Emergency Operations Centre alerted the Pithoragarh district administration which checked and found the information to be false. Suman said that the person responsible for spreading the rumour was identified and a case has been lodged against him. A person found guilty of spreading false information regarding disasters can be jailed for one year and made to pay a fine under section 54 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, he said, while adding that strict action will be taken against any person who spreads such rumours in the future. Suman also directed officials to form block level teams in the district to ensure that financial assistance is provided within 24 hours of death of a person, cattle death or damage to property due to disaster. The team will conduct a ground survey after a disaster to evaluate the damage caused. He directed officials to form more teams to provide financial assistance to the affected people for the damage caused by flooding in the Udham Singh Nagar district. Taking cognisance of delay by insurance companies in settling claims, he said that the companies should conduct a survey immediately and settle the claims, which should be ensured at the district level.
