Nearly 402 families have been uprooted; rescue operations on with the help of the army and paramiltary forces; prime minister, UPA chairperson assures of all possible help
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought a relief package of Rs 600-crore for the flood-hit state.
Bahuguna, along with Union minister Harish Rawat and some of the MPs from the state called on the prime minister in New Delhi and apprised him of the situation arising from the recent devastation caused by flash floods.
The CM said his government was carrying out rescue and relief work by its own scanty resources and urged the prime minister to provide financial and technical support to strengthen the disaster management machinery in the hill state where natural disasters are common. Bahuguna added that owing to road blockages in the hilly areas, difficulties were being faced to transport foods, medicines and other relief materials. He also urged the PM to provide helicopters to extract stranded tourists and pilgrims and transport relief materials to affected areas.
Bahuguna apprised the PM of the damage caused by heavy rains and cloudbursts, especially in Uttarkashi district where the impact of the calamity was much greater. He said that initial estimation of damages amounted to around Rs 600 crore.
Bahuguna said that 28 people have lost their lives, 7 are missing and 8 reportedly injured. He disclosed that 58 residential buildings, 2 non-residential buildings and 11 commercial buildings have been damaged. Nearly 402 families had been uprooted and the rescue and relief works are being undertaken on a war footing with the help of the army and para-military forces.
The chief minister said that due to damaged roads, LPG cylinders were not reaching the hill areas. He urged the PM to increase the kerosene quota. Expressing his full concern, the prime minister assured all possible help from the Centre at the earliest.
Bahuguna also called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and apprised her about the situation. She also assured him to discuss the issue with the prime minister and urge him to provide the relief fund at the earliest.
