Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Jul: With incessant rainfall lashing the district since last night, the district administration remained on high alert and fully active. District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan personally reached Ground Zero at many affected locations from early this morning itself. Along with other senior officials, he inspected several rain-affected and sensitive areas, monitored relief and restoration works, and issued necessary directions to the officials. He visited Nanda ki Chowki, Sauda-Sarauli road, Maldevta, Baldi River near Sahastradhara, IT Park–Sahastradhara road, and the landslide-affected stretch near Paniwala Bend on Mussoorie road. He instructed that public safety must remain the highest priority and all rain-affected routes be restored for smooth traffic at the earliest.
On receiving information about damage to the approach lane of the bridge near Nanda Chowki in the morning, Chauhan immediately reached the site. He directed PWD officials to repair the damaged portion within three hours and restore traffic and also warned of strict action against negligence. The department promptly initiated repairs and restoration within the stipulated time. Later, he inspected the rain-damaged road built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana at Sauda-Sarauli and ordered its immediate reopening for traffic. The administration also swiftly cleared debris and restored traffic on the blocked Thano road. During the inspection at Raipur area, local MLA Umesh Sharma Kau was also present.
During the inspection at Maldevta, Chauhan emphasised on a permanent solution to the recurring problem of traffic disruption at the causeway during the monsoon period. He directed the PWD officials to prepare a proposal for bridge construction and send it to the government at the earliest to prevent future inconvenience to the public. At Paniwala Bend on Dehradun-Mussoorie Road, he instructed the provincial division officials of the PWD to ensure two-lane traffic within 15 days. The officials informed that the two-lane work would be completed within 10 to 15 days, while construction of retaining walls for safety would take about two months.
The DM also issued strict directions that all the rain-damaged roads and link routes across the district must be restored on priority. He directed all the SDMs, the departments linked with the IRS system, and other officials to remain alert and active round the clock to ensure immediate response in any emergency. He reiterated that public safety during the monsoon is the administration’s top priority and all departments must work in coordination to ensure prompt relief and restoration in case of disasters or road blockages, so that the public does not face inconvenience.
Local MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) KK Mishra, Tehsildar Sadar Surendra Dev, and PWD Executive Engineer Bhrigunath Dwivedi were present during inspection in Raipur area. At Paniwala Bend on Mussoorie Road, Joint Magistrate Mussoorie Rahul Anand, PWD provincial division officer Pradeep Shahi, and other departmental officials were also present.
