Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday reviewed the situation following the washing away of a Bailey bridge at Tamaknala on the Joshimath-Malari motor road in Chamoli district and directed officials to ensure uninterrupted supplies and work towards restoring connectivity at the earliest, according to a government press release.
Dhami spoke to the Chamoli district magistrate and Garhwal divisional commissioner to take stock of relief and rescue operations, the supply of essential commodities and connectivity in the affected areas.
Focus on supplies and road connectivity
The chief minister directed officials to ensure that the supply of ration, food, medicines and other essential items to affected areas was not disrupted. He also asked authorities to explore alternative routes and other available means to deliver supplies to residents if required.
Officials were directed to visit the site and assess the damage so that restoration and relief work could be taken up without delay. Dhami also called for increased vigilance in lower-lying areas and around rivers and streams amid changing weather conditions and rising water levels.
The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) is monitoring Chamoli and other vulnerable areas round the clock, while coordination with district administrations and departments is being maintained for immediate deployment of rescue teams in case of an emergency, the release said.
{{/usCountry}}The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) is monitoring Chamoli and other vulnerable areas round the clock, while coordination with district administrations and departments is being maintained for immediate deployment of rescue teams in case of an emergency, the release said.
{{/usCountry}}The bridge, constructed by 123 Border Roads Task Force at Suraithota, was washed away on Monday after a sudden increase in water flow at Tamaknala. One person and a camper vehicle were also reported to have been swept away.
Following the incident, the chief minister sought information from the disaster management and rehabilitation secretary and directed that rescue operations be given priority. Teams of the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force were sent to the site, while local administration, police and other departments joined the operations.
Dhami meets employee organisations
Separately, Dhami met representatives of several employee organisations at the Chief Sevak Sadan at his camp office on Tuesday. The delegations raised issues related to promotions, vacancies, pension, pay scales, regularisation and other service-related matters.
According to a separate government release, Dhami directed senior officials to examine the demands under existing rules and take appropriate action towards resolving them.
The delegations included representatives of education officers, diploma engineers of the Jal Sansthan, university employees, junior high school teachers, National Health Mission employees, ANMs, laboratory technicians, corporation employees, guest teachers and excise inspectors.
The chief minister directed Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu to have the demands examined through the concerned departments and take necessary action.