Garhwal Post Bureau
Uttarkashi, 13 Aug: A high-level committee constituted by the Uttarakhand government conducted a detailed inspection of the disaster-affected region of Dharali in Uttarkashi district today in order to evaluate rehabilitation requirements and strengthen livelihood support for the affected families. The committee comprised Secretary, Revenue, SN Pandey, CEO, UCADA, Ashish Chauhan, and Additional Secretary, Finance, Himanshu Khurana, who engaged in extensive discussions with disaster victims, local representatives, and district officials to gather feedback and suggestions.
During the course of the inspection, the villagers demanded relocation to safer areas such as Jangla, Lanka, and Kopang, and called for the reconstruction of Dharali on the lines of the Kedarnath Dham redevelopment. Kaushik Panwar, a disaster victim, urged the construction of roadside sheds for safe storage of apples, a critical concern for local horticulturists. District Magistrate, Uttarkashi, Prashant Arya assured that such sheds would be prioritised once road connectivity is restored.
Committee chairperson SN Pandey described the tragedy as deeply painful and claimed that both the Central and State governments, along with the district administration, stand firmly with the affected families. He stated that immediate and long-term rehabilitation efforts would be undertaken on priority, and a comprehensive roadmap would be developed to compensate for the losses and provide all necessary assistance.
DM Prashant Arya shared that surveys of damaged crops and apple orchards have been completed, and road restoration work is progressing on a war footing. Relief funds have already been disbursed to the affected families, and that adequate supplies of food and essential items are being distributed. Search and rescue operations continue unabated, with multiple agencies involved.
Ashish Chauhan and Himanshu Khurana emphasised that rehabilitation options would be tailored to the needs of each family, and a full report on damaged assets would be submitted to the government to facilitate compensation and support.
Meanwhile, legal scrutiny surrounding the disaster has intensified. A team from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), led by Civil Judge Sachin Kumar, also visited Dharali to assess whether victims are receiving adequate psychological, medical, and legal assistance. The team, comprising senior advocates, doctors, and disaster response personnel, is preparing a report to be submitted to the High Court. Under the Supreme Court-mandated NALSA scheme, legal aid is being extended to victims, including guidance on compensation entitlements under the Victim Compensation Schemes of 2013 and 2020.
