On Saturday morning, the Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of the site of the avalanche near Mana and reviewed the relief and rescue operations in Jyotirmath. After inspecting the site, the Chief Minister reached the state Emergency Operations Centre at USDMA and discussed the rescue operation with senior government officials. He shared that the relief and rescue teams have done commendable work, rescuing 50 people so far. Instructions have been given to conduct a war-footing operation to search for five more workers trapped in the avalanche.
The Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narender Modi took an update on the rescue operation over the phone and assured all possible help. Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are also concerned about the safe evacuation of the workers and are taking regular updates. He thanked the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister for the support provided by the Central Government.
CM Dhami also mentioned that the relief and rescue teams have successfully traced five containers and evacuated the workers safely. Three containers have not been traced due to heavy snow. Efforts are being made to trace these containers. Army sniffer dogs have been deployed to search for the container and intensive patrolling is being done by three teams of the Army. The Army’s GPR (Ground Penetration Radar) has been ordered from Delhi to help trace the containers under the snow.
The CM assured that all arrangements have been made for the treatment of the injured workers. The injured workers are being treated at the Army Hospital in Mana and Jyotirmath. AIIMS Rishikesh, Srinagar Medical College and local CHCs and PHCs have been put on alert.
CM Dhami directed the officials that the villages which are not being contacted due to heavy snowfall should be contacted immediately. The administration team should be sent there and whatever things they need should be sent immediately. It should be ensured that there is availability of ration, medicines as well as other essential items there. He directed to immediately restore communication system, phone and internet in Badrinath area and send satellite phones to areas where connectivity has been disrupted. He also instructed to restore power system soon in villages where electricity is disrupted. The Chief Minister emphasised that he is personally monitoring the rescue operation. Relief teams are conducting relief and rescue operations at ground zero with full enthusiasm.
On this occasion, Vice Chairman of Advisory Committee, Disaster Management Department Vinay Kumar Ruhela, DGP Deepam Seth, Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Commissioner Garhwal Vinay Shankar Pandey, Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman, GOC Uttarakhand Sub-Area Major General Prem Raj, ITBP IG Sanjay Gunjyal, IG SDRF Riddhim Aggarwal, Inspector General of Police Garhwal Range Rajiv Swaroop, USDMA ACEO Implementation DIG Rajkumar Negi, Finance Controller Abhishek Anand, JEO Md. Obaidullah Ansari etc. were present.
