By Arun Pratap Singh
New Delhi/Dehradun, 6 Aug: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Uttarakhand’s Members of Parliament in New Delhi today to discuss the recent natural disaster in Dharali, Uttarkashi. During the meeting, he promised them all possible help from the Centre. He also urged the MPs to support the affected people. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s office in the Parliament complex.
Among the MPs from Uttarakhand present on the occasion included four Lok Sabha MPs, namely, Anil Baluni from Pauri, Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah from Tehri Garhwal, Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and Ajay Bhatt from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar. Rajya Sabha MP and Uttarakhand BJP President Mahendra Bhatt was also present.
After the meeting, Tehri Garhwal MP Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah, whose constituency includes the disaster-affected Dharali region, shared that the Prime Minister has promised substantial assistance from the Centre. She also stated that she wouuld leave New Delhi today to reach Dharali by tomorrow evening to meet with victims and oversee the ongoing relief and rescue efforts. In response to claims from opposition Congress leaders about her absence during the crisis, Shah stated that such comments should not be made during tough times. She asserted that such remarks come from a misunderstanding of the unique issues in the hill areas.
Pauri-Garhwal MP Anil Baluni shared that PM Modi is deeply pained by the severe calamity that has struck Uttarkashi. He is personally and continuously reviewing the relief and rescue operations. Baluni added that the PM has stated that all the agencies of, both, the Central and State governments are engaged with full promptness in relief, rescue, and rehabilitation work. Modi added that the Union Government stands with all those affected by the disaster, including those in Dharali, and is providing all possible assistance to help Uttarakhand fight and recover from this calamity.
Baluni also shared that the PM has urged all Members of Parliament to stay in touch with the people living in areas affected by heavy rain and landslides in their respective constituencies and to make every effort to provide them with all possible help.
Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat also spoke with the Prime Minister. After their discussion, Rawat shared that the rescue operations had begun within 15 minutes of the incident, with army and ITBP teams quickly deployed. He said the injured are receiving care at an army hospital and have access to proper medical facilities. Additionally, arrangements for shelter and food have been set up for those left homeless. However, Rawat also conceded that the biggest challenge was the breakdown of communication services caused by damaged electricity poles.
Mahendra Bhatt, Uttarakhand BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP, confirmed that both the government and the meteorological department had given timely alerts, leading to the suspension of the yatra. He noted that efforts are being made to fully assess the damage, and that restoring normal conditions in the disaster affected area remains the main goal.
