Inter-Ministerial Central Team Meets CM Dhami, Reviews Disaster Damage in Uttarakhand
The team praised the state’s initiative of providing ₹5 lakh immediate relief to the families of deceased victims
The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) of the Government of India, which visited disaster-hit areas of Uttarakhand, called on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized that Uttarakhand is highly disaster-prone, particularly during the monsoon season when incidents of landslides, floods, and waterlogging are frequent. He stressed the need for national-level institutions to work collectively to strengthen forecasting systems and minimize losses.
CM Dhami pointed out that this year’s excessive rainfall has caused widespread damage across several districts, resulting in loss of lives, property, and agricultural land. He underlined that cloudbursts and landslides in mountainous areas cause permanent destruction of land, rendering it unfit for farming or construction, and therefore require a robust long-term action plan.
The Central team, led by R. Prasanna, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, visited disaster-affected areas of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Pauri Garhwal, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Nainital before meeting the Chief Minister. The delegation included Under Secretary Sher Bahadur, Chief Engineers Sudhir Kumar and Pankaj Singh, Deputy Director Vikas Sachan, and Director Dr. Virendra Singh.
Commending the relief measures undertaken by the state government, the team appreciated the arrangements in relief camps, including accommodation, food, medical facilities, and other basic services. They also praised the state’s initiative of providing ₹5 lakh immediate relief to the families of deceased victims and those who lost their homes, calling it a major support for the affected.
The team especially lauded Uttarakhand’s unique initiative of maintaining complete data of pregnant women with district administrations to ensure regular health monitoring and safe deliveries. They noted that such initiatives could serve as models for other states.
The Central team further highlighted concerns about potential future risks due to rising river levels from excessive silt accumulation caused by floods and landslides.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Additional Chief Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Secretary (Disaster Management) Vinod Kumar Suman, and Additional CEO of State Disaster Management Authority Anand Swaroop were also present during the meeting.
