By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 1 Mar: In a statement issued on Saturday, Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Karan Mahara condemned the “risk posed’ to the lives of about 55 workers and employees due to the glacier sliding in Mana of Chamoli district, calling it a horrific and concerning incident. The news of four deaths in this incident is very sad and painful. He prayed for the deceased and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. He urged the government to provide proper treatment for the injured free of cost and to immediately declare compensation for the families of the deceased, as well as financial assistance to the survivors of the natural disaster.
Mahara highlighted that Uttarakhand’s difficult geographical conditions make it susceptible to glacier slides and landslides in inaccessible areas. Despite prior warnings from the Meteorological Department, no precautionary measures were taken, raising questions about the government’s negligence. He mentioned that the government has not learned from the earlier incident in Raini, Chamoli district.
Lauding the officers and jawans engaged in rescue and relief work, Mahara acknowledged their efforts in safely rescuing the workers by working tirelessly day and night. He called for a comprehensive policy on Himalayan disaster management to effectively deal with and prevent such incidents, as they are becoming increasingly frequent.
Mahara also criticized the unscientific and uncontrolled manner in which landslides are being caused in Uttarakhand’s hilly areas. He pointed out that tampering with rivers in landslide-sensitive areas, construction under the master plan, and riverfront work in Alaknanda are damaging the mountains. He urged the government to show sensitivity towards these issues and to consult scientists to avoid such incidents in the future.
