Policy & people need to come together: Asha Negi on Uttarkashi cloudburst
As Uttarkashi grapples with the aftermath of a devastating cloudburst,
Asha Negi
, who was born and brought up in Dehradun, says, 'While climate change is a global challenge, I believe local awareness and preparedness, especially in vulnerable regions like the hills, can make a huge difference.
We need both policy and people to come together.'
The actress is now based in Mumbai, but her family still lives in the mountains. She says, 'My family is in Dehradun, and none of the people I know live around this particular area where the cloudburst happened. But my heart goes out to those who have suffered. I do get worried for my family at such times.'
She adds, 'The way Dehradun has become so populated and polluted in the past two decades is genuinely worrisome. What was once known for its clean air, green cover and peaceful pace is now struggling with traffic, construction and rising temperatures. This rapid urbanisation is putting a huge strain on natural resources and increasing the region's vulnerability to disasters like flash floods and cloudbursts.'
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