PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the Uttarakhand government has initiated the process of incorporating training of disaster management in the curriculum of the schools and colleges of the State. This will help our future generations in dealing with the dangers of disasters in a better way.
He was addressing a programme at Government Doon Medical College here on Saturday in which the personnel of NDRF, SDRF, Police and ITBP were felicitated. Dhami said that honouring these personnel is a symbol of gratitude for their contribution in the relief and rescue operations during disasters.
The CM said that Uttarakhand regularly faces challenges of disasters. Landslides, floods, heavy rainfall, and other natural disasters are common in our state nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, he said.
Recalling the Kedarnath disaster of 2013, disaster in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga valleys of Chamoli in 2021 and Joshimath land subsidence, the CM said that the State recently faced numerous incidents of heavy rain, cloudbursts, and landslides in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Dehradun districts. These disasters resulted in the deaths of many people and significant damage to property. Many people are still missing.
“The biggest challenge faced by us in these difficult circumstances was to protect the lives of people. It was during this time that the SDRF, NDRF, and police and administration personnel worked tirelessly at ground zero to rescue those injured and trapped in the debris,’’ he said.
He said that during the disaster, our relief workers not only evacuated affected families to safety but also operated rehabilitation and relief camps. The CM also remembered the rescue operation of trapped workers in the Silkyara tunnel.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their support in disaster relief operations, the CM said that the PM personally visited Dehradun, met with the disaster victims, shared their pain, listened to their problems, and took quick decisions. He also announced a special relief of Rs 1,200 crore for the people of Uttarakhand.
Dhami said that disasters not only destroy buildings or roads, they also undermine people’s self-confidence and future. Therefore, the state government has ensured that disaster victims are not only compensated, but also given special attention to their rehabilitation and livelihoods.
The CM averred that the state government has provided SDRF personnel with modern equipment, such as drones, satellite-based monitoring, and latest rescue gear. Additionally, local youth are being trained in villages under the Aapda Mitra scheme. The use of disaster-resilient technology has also been mandated in road and bridge construction.
