Detailed Review of Disaster-Hit Areas
Comprehensive Report to be Sent to the Centre Soon
Bageshwar: A high-level Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), constituted by the Government of India, visited various disaster-affected areas of the district on Monday to assess the extent of the damage. The team inspected Paunsari, Baisani, and the Jagthana motor road, meeting affected families and reviewing the status of local livelihoods and infrastructure.
The primary objective of the visit was to evaluate the loss of lives, property, infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods, as well as to review the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken by the state government.
Interaction with Affected Families, Appreciation of Relief Measures
The team members landed at the Government Postgraduate College helipad around 4 p.m. and proceeded directly to Paunsari. During the inspection, they interacted with affected families, listened to their concerns, and gathered information about ongoing relief and rehabilitation work.
Local residents appreciated the prompt efforts of the district administration but emphasized the need for safe relocation and permanent rehabilitation.
Expert Team Conducted Detailed Assessment
The visiting team comprised Nodal Officer Virendra Kumar (Director, Ministry of Agriculture), Sudhir Kumar (Superintending Engineer, Central Water Commission), Sher Bahadur (Under Secretary, Ministry of Finance), and Dr. Shantanu Sarkar (Director, Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre, Dehradun).
During the field visit, the team assessed the damage to roads, bridges, public buildings, electricity and water supply lines, agricultural crops, livestock, and other livelihood resources. They also reviewed the restoration of essential services, availability of food, drinking water, medical aid, temporary shelters, and rescue operations carried out during the disaster.
Review Meeting at the Collectorate
Following the site inspection, the IMCT held a review meeting at the Collectorate Auditorium with District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgain and other senior officials. The District Magistrate presented a detailed overview of the disaster, relief and rescue operations, and ongoing rehabilitation plans.
Through drone footage and photographs, the team was provided with a visual understanding of the scale and nature of damage at various locations, enabling a more accurate assessment of immediate needs.
Comprehensive Report to be Submitted to the Centre
The team assured that a comprehensive report covering all aspects of the disaster impact and recovery requirements would be submitted to the Central Government at the earliest, ensuring timely financial and technical support for the rehabilitation and development of the affected regions.
