ITBP restores link with cut-off villages
Evacuation operations going on as planned: Commandant
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 24
Rescue and relief operations in Johar and Darma villages of Pithoragarh district are going on as planned by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which has succeeded in connecting all disconnected villages with other villagers. The ITBP claimed that it had successfully evacuated people from both the valleys.

“We have linked 95 per cent of the villages with our rescue operation and have spared 14 teams for the search, rescue and relief in these villages,” said Ranvir Singh, Commandant, ITBP.

According to the ITBP Commandant, rescue teams of the ITBP have traversed from Munsiyari, Rilkot, Bugdyar and Milam villages in the Johar valley and Tidang and Baling villages of Darma valley to trace the trapped villagers and outsiders. “Three localities of Lwa, Khilanch and Ponting in the Johar valley will soon be linked to other villages by our teams,” said the ITBP Commandant.

“After evacuating seven tourists, including six Americans from the Johar valley, we are feeding 16 sick persons at Milam in the Johar valley and waiting for good weather conditions to evacuate 70 outsiders from there,” said the ITBP commandant.

The ITBP rescue and relief teams have covered almost all villages of the Darma valley and evacuated many people from there.

According to the reports, about 162 persons do not want to come down as they are expecting some relief funds from the state. The commandant said until the weather gets clear, the remnants will be fed by the ITBP at various camps in the Darma valley. “We have already evacuated 50 persons who had gathered at Teezam and now working to evacuate 25 outsiders, all labourers from Nagling,” said the commandant.

According to ITBP sources, due to inclement weather, some 35 trapped persons at Chal and Nagling villages are still to be evacuated, the work has been delayed due to non-cooperative weather in this part. “We have covered all villages of the Darma valley, including Baling, Dugtu, Dantu, Goo, Dharkar, Sipu, Tidang and Philam of Darma valley and running relief camps in every locality," said the ITBP commandant.

Hoteliers, traders, taxi operators collect relief material
Our Correspondent

President of the Traders’ Association Rajat Aggarwal (in blue shirt) collects donations in Mussoorie on Monday for the people affected by the natural calamity.

Mussoorie, June 24
Hoteliers, traders, taxi operators and members of the Municipal Council today jointly collected relief material in Mussoorie to be provided to the victims of the natural disaster that struck Uttarakhand a week ago.

The members from the Hotel Owners Association collected around 500 blankets and sent the consignment to the District Magistrate of Tehri Garhwal where several villages had been devastated due to the natural disaster.

The Mussoorie Traders Association also collected money from shopkeepers which would be contributed to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or given directly to the affected villages around the state.

The Mussoorie Taxi Association also offered around 20 taxis to be used for ferrying the evacuated pilgrims from the Jolly Grant airport to the railway station and other destinations in Dehradun.

The president of the Mussoorie Traders Association said the disaster was unprecedented and it had crippled the economy of the state beyond imagination. The traders decided at a meeting to join hands with the administration and assist in providing the collected relief to the affected people.

Municipal Council president Manmohan Singh Mall also held a meeting with the council members and decided to provide relief in form of blankets, clothes, shoes, food etc to the affected villages like Parodi in the Thatyur block.

A truckload of relief material had been arranged from the Uttarakhand diaspora living in various states. The material would arrive here tomorrow and redirected to the victims, said Manmohan.

President of the Mussoorie Taxi Association Hukum Singh Rawat said he had already sent 20 taxis to be used for disaster-hit people being brought to the Jolly Grant airport so that they could leave for their destinations as early as possible.

As people have less faith in the administration, they are sending relief material directly to the affected persons in Uttarkashi, Badrinath and Kedarnath through their own means. Other organisations are also chipping in to provide relief in cash or kind.

Shoorvir Singh Bhandari, a resident of Mussoorie, along with his family was on his way to Gaumukh when they were stranded midway due the natural calamity. He said it was a harrowing experience as they were stranded at Bhujbasa due to torrential rains and had to trek several kilometres to reach Baghori village. They were looked after well by the villagers at Baghori village and provided with food, tea etc.

Bhandari and other affected families were rescued by the Indian Air Force and ferried to the Chinyalisaur air base in helicopters today.

The economy of the hill town of Mussoorie has also suffered due to the devastation as most of the tourists staying in hotels here are returning due to the forecast of more rains.

Eminent Garhwali folk singer Preetam Bhartwan said, “I salute the armed forces and villagers for assisting the victims by providing them food and a safe passage.” He added the focus should now shift to saving villages which had been completely devastated.

Felling of trees, too many power projects responsible for calamity: MP
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 24
Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur Yogi Aditya Nath has put the onus on incessant cutting of trees and numerous hydropower projets being carried out in the hilll state as mainly responsible for the recent natural calamity in Uttarakhand. He also took strong note of the damage to the revered shrine in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, of Mata Dhari Devi.

The firebrand BJP MP pointed out that due to explosions, creation of tunnels and stopping of natural flow of rivers, mountains and the ecological system in the hills has got affected , which has resulted in similar types of natural disasters.

Lashing out at the Congress government led by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Aditya Nath said that the state government failed for the first three days of the calamity in assessing and providing relief to the affected people.

He said that it was only on arrival of the Indian Army, Air Force and paramilitary personnel that the situation got under control, otherwise the disaster managemnt of the government failed at all quarters.

The Gorakhpur parliamentarian,who held telephonic conversation with Uttarakhand CM, said that without proper permission, how come in the past few years numerous hydroelectric projects had been commissioned in the hill state.

Yogi Nath sought an explanation from Uttarakhand government and JVK Company that is carrying out 330 MW Alaknanda power project, pointing out that how come from the sanctioned 63 metres initial dam height was later turned into 195 metres, which led to the Dhari Devi Temple coming into the submerging area.

"This is a direct proof of dangerous liaison between the government ministers, bureacrats and corporate mafia, who are raking money from hydropower projects. Ill-effects of mega hydropower projects are now visible in the form of nature cycle disturbances,"said Aditya Nath.

He also anounced assistance of Rs 50 lakh from his side and Rs 10 lakh via his social organisations Hind Yuva Vahini to the Char Dham-Hemkund-affected people and region.

Meanwhile,former Union Home Minister for State Swami Chinmayanand has blamed former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishnank for of not taking quick decision when it came to sanctioning of hydropower projects in the hill state.

Swami Chinmayanand said that during BC Khanduri's tenure, Lohari Nagpala power project was shelved but it was not known why Nishank was hellbent on allowing hydro projects.

The saint-turned-politician also referred to Dhari Devi shila being put up at a home and cutting of rocks on which the shila was placed and shifted from its original place. This amounted to hurting the religious-spiritual sentiments of the devotees and local people.

Continuous flow of relief material: DM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam said today that the work regarding collection of relief material was constantly in process at a relief material collection centre built at Transport City, Phase II. He said the relief material was continuously being sent by the state government and semi-government organisations, private enterprises, NGOs’ and volunteers.

He said 22 vehicles, trucks and small vehicles were sent for distribution of relief material at Guptkashi, Badkot, Uttarakashi and Chamoli areas.

There were 950 bags of flour each weighing 10 kg, 28 rice sacks, 170 biscuit cans, 385 water containers, 12 baskets of mangoes, 19 cloth packets, 25 boxes of namkeen, 10 tins of refined oil and 20 packets of blankets.

The relief material was received from Rajasthan, Haryana, Dehradun, transport city committee, Alvar Distributor Shirdi Sai Rasoi, Adat Bazaar, Himalayan Youth from Paonta Sahib, Aligarh, Yamuna Nagar, New Delhi and some local people. Purushottam remained engaged in sending the relief material to the affected areas through Army helicopters.

He said 11 pilgrims had safely been evacuated by helicopters of Army and roadways. The district administration also distributed Rs 2,000 to each of the rescued person. A sum of Rs 1.52 lakh was distributed among 71 rescued at Jolly Grant Airport and Rs 1.5 lakh to 52 people at Sahastardhara helipad. The rescued were natives of Assam, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh.

Purushottam said around 909 people were rescued from Uttarakashi, Gangotri and Joshimath. They were Rs 18.18 lakh to reach their destinations. Nine pilgrims who reported sick and injured were admitted to Max Hospital. They were also given Rs 18,000.

Meanwhile, Purushottam also inspected Disaster Control Room set up at the police lines in Race Course, where he directed the deputed officials and employees to make separate lists of pilgrims, brought through helicopters or those admitted in the hospitals so that their family members did not face any problem in getting information about them. He also directed employees of Information Department to set up a police control room along with computer system and asked them to provide link of the control room on the website of the state government.

He said this would help in gathering information about all the rescued pilgrims, including those who were admitted in hospitals. He instructed them to provide all possible help to the victims’ families.

The District Magistrate said as per information given by the Disaster Operation Centre, land erosion had begun taking place in the Ganga near Gauri Mafi Raiwala and Song river. This could endanger the houses built in the surroundings.

Army carries out extensive recce missions
Tribune News service

Dehradun, June 24
Phase three of the Army’s rescue and relief operations continued on Monday with the evacuation of stranded people being undertaken on a war footing. Lt Gen N.S. Bawa, GOC, Uttar Bharat Rea, informed mediapersons here today that 847 stranded pilgrims from Badrinath were rescued by making them to the nearest road head. Yesterday, 400 pilgrims walked under Army supervision from Badrinath. He said that the evacuation of stranded people by land route from Badrinath to Joshimath and from Harsil to Uttarkashi as a contingency plan had been the mission of the Army. Army teams carried out extensive reconnaissance missions and identified segments of road affected by landslides. Logistics, transport and administrative bases have been created in consonance with the state administration.

Lt. Gen. N.S. Bawa said that Indian Army had so far rescued 20,250 stranded pilgrims and tourists from various places in the state. He said that still there are 5000 pilgrims stranded at Badrinath and 1500 at Harsil in Uttarkashi.

Army’s search, rescue and relief operations continued throughout the day inspite of inclement weather conditions. In Badrinath sector, 281 people moved by land route yesterday after the construction of Burma bridge across Alaknanda at Lam Bagar on Joshimath- Badrinath road. Army today created Heli bridge at Lam Bagar in addition to the foot bridge. Heli shuttle service continued till reports last came in. Two Army helicopters and three civil helicopters ferried people from Badrinath today. A total of 847 people moved towards Joshimath today with 450 using Heli bridge and the balance using Burma bridge of Army. Army aviators challenged the weather in Badrinath valley to transport people in inclement weather conditions. Army provided leadership, logistics, food and medical aid at a number of places en route. Army teams placed in various segments along the route provided guidance to people.

In Uttarkashi sector, MI 17 helicopters made 16 sorties evacuating 402 people from Harsil, while 683 people reached Uttarkashi by foot. Foot/vehicle-based evacuation continued throughout the day. Army established staging areas stocked with food, water and medicines at Sukhi and Gagnani for the evacuees.

Following intermittent rainfall today, number of landslides occurred on the Rishikesh-Rudraprayag road although the route ahead to Joshimath remained open.

Approximately 1400 people are awaiting evacuation at Harsil, 50 at Dharali and 60 at Jhala on Uttarkashi axis and approximately 5000 at Badrinath. Army established food distribution centres at Gobind Ghat and Joshimath.

In the Kedarnath sector, Army special troops with mountaineering skills continued search and rescue operations to link up with stranded people, if any, between Jungle Chatti and Rama Bara. Intensive combing operations are on till reports last came in. Despite inclement weather conditions predicted for the next two days, Army’s relentless efforts to provide succor, rescue and relief will continue.

The dead robbed of jewellery, cash
Armed forces recover Rs 1.14 core stolen from Kedarnath Temple
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24
Incident of looting and plundering at Kedarnath, where a large number of bodies of the pilgrims are lying buried, have been reported by personnel of the armed forces involved in the rescue and relief operations. An amount of Rs 114,83,360 has so far been recovered by the Army, the ITBP and the National Disaster Relief Force from plunders.

There have also been reports of looting and plundering from the bodies by some locals. Earlier, rescued pilgrims have also narrated incident of gangs of anti-social elements looting cash and jewellery from them while they were escaping from the natural calamity in the Kedarnath shrine area.

Interestingly, Uttarakhand DGP Satyavrat Bansal in a statement yesterday had claimed that there were no reports of looting and snatching from anywhere and no such complaint had been lodged with the police.

On the other hand, the central armed forces today claimed that more than Rs 1 crore had been recovered from plunderers.

A man was also arrested with Rs 83 lakh in cash which was part of the Rs 5 crore kept in the chest of the State Bank of India branch at Kedarnath. The SBI building was completely washed away in the deluge and the money lay scattered.

A few sadhus were also detained with muddied jewellery and a large amount of cash. It was reported that such unscrupulous elements rummaged through the rubble and robbed the dead of their jewellery and cash. There were reports that even the fingers and limbs of the dead were cut off to steal the jewellery.

Earlier, the survivors of the catastrophe had narrated tales of their exploitation by local shopkeepers who charged exorbitantly for food and even for biscuit packets that had been dropped by the Army.

A day earlier, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had castigated the media for defaming the state over such incidents.

Pilgrims’ relatives raise slogans against Cong, Rahul
Tribune News Service

Dehradun June 24
Patience of family members and acquaintances of stranded victims gave way around evening time on finding no chopper flying to rescue pilgrims the whole day from Sahastardhara helipad. Circle Officer Swatantar Kumar had to bear their wrath. The argument was triggered by Mahamandleshwar of Niranjani Akhara, Maheshanand Giri and his disciples. They questioned about choppers not flying from the helipad, saying that rescue work was undergoing at Jolly Grant Airport.

When the CO tried to pacify them by giving some vague information, they got angry. The CO also told them that the pilgrims were being evacuated at Badrinath. At this those who are in touch with their trapped family members had a scuffle with him, saying that their family members told them that they were waiting to be rescued since morning but none from the authorities came. They called up the trapped family members before the CO and confirmed that none went to pick up their people.

One of the pilgrim’s family member’s remark that evacuation was selectively done on religion basis at some spots angered the CO, who asked them not to turn this sensitive issue communal. Some pilgrims remarked that the state government was not allowing choppers and helicopters of their states and was not rescuing their pilgrims on their own as well.

They also blamed the ministers of the state doing a recce of the disaster-stricken places in their helicopters all day, whilst their people were not rescued. At this, many of them started raising slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. This infuriated Congress activists and leaders of National Student Union of India.

Rahul in Rishikesh
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24
Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi after flagging off relief material with his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for disaster-hit people in Uttarakhand in New Delhi flew to Jolly Grant Airport to take stock of the situation himself.

Rahul Gandhi, who was abroad, was criticised for not appearing during the calamity by the Opposition parties. He landed at Jolly Grant Airport and then went to Rishikesh on his way to Gauchar in Rudraprayag district by road.

According to party sources, he would be staying at Gauchar tonight and would be meeting the disaster-hit people tomorrow.

Maharashtra CM assures relief to state
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 24
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan has termed the natural calamity in Uttarakhand as one of the worst in recent times and assured assistance to the state government in the relief aid.

Chauhan, who arrived here today in Haridwar, met District Magistrate Nidhi Pandey, and took stock of the arrangements made for the rescued pilgrims. He also met pilgrims from Maharashtra, whom he assured of free transport service, and directed Maharashtra officials camping in Haridwar to hand out Rs 2000 to each pilgrim, as and when they arrived here.

Inspecting the railway station where special relief aid, health camp, transport facility ,helpline and information centres have been set up, Chauhan said in this time of distress it was quite heartening that everyone is coming forward to help the affected people.

Chauhan also listened to the experiences and woes of the Maharashtra-based pilgrims and assured them of full assistance in reaching safely to their home state as well as being in touch with Army and other government officials to know about the number of Maharashtra-based pilgrims still stranded in the affected places.

Pandey said till date a total of 5,304 pilgrims had been put up at dharmashalas located in the city and 4,934 pilgrims had been sent via railway trains and 8,830 via buses, free of cost, to their respective places.

Infrastructure will be completed within one year: Guv
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June24
All the infrastructure damaged by the disaster caused by the rains, will be completed within one year. Priority will be given to the religious places, roads, schools and hospitals. Uttarahand Governor Dr Aziz Qureishi said here today.

The Governor, who was talking to mediamen at Kashipur rest house while on his way to Dehradun from Nainital, said the state government has shown full commitment in tackling the disaster though its preparations were not according to the expectation of volume of this disaster which was unprecedented. “Due to this disaster, the general preparedness of the government proved insufficient.” said the Governor.

According to the Governor, the pace, according which, the Army and the ITBP jawans are working in disaster-hit areas, the work will be completed in one week’s time. “Thereafter the work of reconstruction will begin and would be completed in one year’s time.” said the Governor.

The Governor agreed that defying laws in construction at disaster-hit regions, might be one of the reasons of this disaster as government’s instructions to avoid this was being defied by the people in that area.

Gorkhas resent news branding them as ‘goons’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24
Various organisations of the Gorkha community held a meeting in the city to deplore the news published in some dailies of the city calling people of Nepal origin as ‘goons’ or ‘badmash’.

President of the Gorkha Democratic Front, Surya Bikram Shahi, said, some local newspapers and news channels were defaming people of the Nepalese origin for alleged misbehaviour of a Nepalese man with women and plundering stranded people in disaster-affected locations.

He said, the entire community should not be blamed for the misdeeds of a single man.

He also added that in this time of calamity, when trapped people were fleeced by shopkeepers of a particular community who charged higher price over purchase of every little thing, the name of this community was not taken by the media. He said, the name of the person who committed any wrong should be published but his community should not be degraded for this.

The pesident of the Gorkha Democratic Front said Nepalese and Gorkhali communities were known for their honesty and bravery and hence they were deeply hurt at some mediapersons' attitude in the matter.

Chavan offers Rs 10 cr relief
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, on a visit to Dehradun today offered a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the flood-hit state of Uttarakhand.

The Chief Minister said beside the financial assistance, he would also not hesitate to adopt the flood-hit villages. “We have pledged to offer Rs 10 crore assistance to the government of Uttarakhand and around Rs 5 crore by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. We are also keen to adopt around 20 villages,” Chavan told the reporters.

Haryana has also offered to adopt 15 villages.

Meanwhile, Chavan, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Balram Naik, Andhra Pradesh former Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu and Andhra Pradesh minister Shridar Babu today met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and extended all help in coping with the natural disaster in Uttarakhand.

Cloudburst in Thailisain, houses flooded
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24
Another cloudburst near Paithani village in Thailisain tehsil of Pauri Garhwal district has led to the destruction of houses and property. According to officials, a cloudburst occurred in the area on the night of June 23 and the resultant floods inundated houses, shops and killed a number of animals in the area. However, no loss of life was reported. The mud and debris caused due to the cloudburst entered houses and shops and damaged many light vehicles. More than 150 domestic animals perished in the deluge.

Satpal Maharaj, Pauri Garhwal MP, has expressed grief at the loss due to the cloudburst and assured the affected people of adequate compensation.