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India Gazette
15 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
Congress leader Harish Rawat slams state administration over Rudraprayag bus incident
Nainital (Uttarakhand) [India], June 26 (ANI): Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday criticised the state administration for failing to learn from previous incidents after a tragic bus accident in Rudraprayag left several dead and injured. Speaking to ANI, Harish Rawat said, 'Such incidents happened last year too. It seems that our system is not learning from them. The state's prestige is linked to this yatra. We should consider that even a small mistake or policy error of the administration tarnishes the state's prestige.' At least three people were killed and eight others injured when a bus carrying 20 passengers collided with another bus and plunged into the Alaknanda River near the Gholthir area of Rudraprayag district during early hours today, officials said. Uttarakhand Secretary for Disaster Management, Vinod Kumar Suman, confirmed the incident and said rescue operations were ongoing. 'There were 20 passengers in the bus that swept away in the river in the Gholthir area of Rudraprayag district. We were able to save 8 people, 3 people died, the rest are being searched,' he told ANI. He further added, 'Among the passengers were a driver from Haridwar, 7 people from Rajasthan, 3 people from Madhya Pradesh, 7 people from Gujarat and 2 people from Maharashtra.' Rescue teams from SDRF, NDRF, and DDRF, along with the district administration, immediately rushed to the scene. Local residents also helped in the rescue operation. Some passengers jumped from the bus before it fell into the river and were rescued and taken to the district hospital. Critically injured victims were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Meanwhile, due to continuous rainfall disrupting the Sonprayag-Munkatia route on the Kedarnath Yatra path, the Rudraprayag district administration safely evacuated 1,269 pilgrims--833 men and 436 women. 'Successful rescue of 1269 pilgrims on the Kedarnath route. Due to continuous rainfall disrupting the Sonprayag-Munkatia route, the Rudraprayag administration prioritised pilgrim safety and evacuated 833 male and 436 female devotees with the assistance of SDRF, NDRF, and DDRF. Efforts are ongoing to restore the route,' the Rudraprayag District Administration posted on X. The bus involved in the accident was travelling from Rudraprayag to Badrinath when it lost control near a sharp turn and fell approximately 300 meters into the river. Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the incident. 'The news of a tempo traveller falling into a river in Rudraprayag district is deeply tragic. Relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing by SDRF and other rescue teams. I am in constant contact with the local administration regarding this matter. I pray to God for everyone's safety,' CM Dhami said in a post on X. The SDRF has also launched a search operation near the Srinagar Garhwal dam, about 40 kilometres from the crash site, as strong river currents may have carried the victims downstream. (ANI)
Time of India
05-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Reconstruction work in Jyotirmath to begin soon, slope stabilisation key focus in phase 1
Dehradun: The first phase of Jyotirmath's reconstruction and rehabilitation, expected to begin soon, will include 'toe protection' work along the Alaknanda river, slope stabilisation measures, and upgrades to the town's water and sanitation systems, officials said on Monday. The move follows the Centre's release of Rs 291 crore last week — the first tranche of the Rs 1,658 crore rehabilitation package sanctioned for the landslide-prone Himalayan town, a key gateway for pilgrims heading to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib. "We've received the first installment and are working to start reconstruction as early as possible," a senior disaster management official told TOI. A high-level meeting was held Monday evening to finalise the implementation strategy. Disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said that tenders for the projects listed in the detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted to the Centre will be floated soon. "While physical work on the ground will take some time, procedural steps are now underway," Suman said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo He added that the meeting will be followed by review and clearance from the chief secretary-led state empowered committee and later by the expenditure finance committee before work officially begins. The rehabilitation package covers four detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted by the state, including a subsidence mitigation plan by the PWD, sewage and drainage upgrades by Peyjal Nigam, and riverbank protection by the irrigation department. Officials said these efforts aim to stabilise fragile slopes and strengthen basic infrastructure to prevent further damage in the town, which was hit by land subsidence in early 2023.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Statewide mock drill held to boost Char Dham Yatra readiness
Dehradun: With an aim to bolster safety and preparedness for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra, a full-scale mock drill was jointly conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) on Thursday. The exercise was carried out at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and across all seven districts involved in the annual pilgrimage. The drill covered the core Char Dham districts — Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag — along with key transit districts, including Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri and Tehri. It tested the ground-level readiness of various departments operating under the Incident Response System (IRS). Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of the state disaster management department, emphasised that the exercise, conducted in close coordination with the NDMA, was meant to assess emergency response capabilities and inter-departmental collaboration. "We achieved significant success in coordination, and where shortcomings were identified, relevant departments were directed to address them before the yatra begins," he said. The operations were led by NDMA principal advisor Major General Sudhir Bahl (retd), who issued a series of recommendations during the post-drill debriefing. He advised integrating police and tourism control rooms with the SEOC for broader monitoring. He also called for the widespread promotion of the Char Dham Yatra mobile app to deliver timely weather alerts, traffic updates, landslide warnings and alternate route guidance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo Key suggestions included installing mandatory signage in danger zones, conducting fire safety audits for hotels and lodges, deploying earth-moving equipment near landslide-prone areas and setting up communication systems in no-network zones. He also recommended enhanced health facilities for helicopter pilgrims vulnerable to high-altitude sickness, and the establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for helipad safety. The NDMA also praised the efforts in Badrinath, particularly the crowd management measures implemented by Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari. These included improved matting, reinforced railings, benches for elderly pilgrims and additional toilet facilities.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Tabletop exercise held ahead of mock drill for Char Dham Yatra disaster preparedness
Dehradun: Ahead of the full-scale mock drill scheduled for Thursday, a tabletop exercise (TTEX) was conducted on Tuesday under the Incident Response System (IRS) framework to enhance disaster preparedness for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. The objective is to evaluate the on-ground preparedness of various line departments in handling potential disasters during the pilgrimage. The mock drill is being jointly organised by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). "These drills aim to test inter-departmental coordination, resource mobilisation and emergency response protocols ahead of the high-footfall yatra season," said Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of the disaster management department. NDMA member Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) reviewed the preparations at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun. He emphasised that such mock drills provide a crucial opportunity to assess the readiness, capabilities and resources of various agencies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Hasnain highlighted the significance of the Char Dham Yatra, calling it "not just a religious journey for Uttarakhand, but a national pilgrimage" attracting lakhs of devotees from across the globe. He also praised the recent forest fire mock drill conducted by USDMA and commended the state's awareness initiatives. "USDMA is fully prepared to tackle any emergency during the pilgrimage. Coordination is ongoing with all line departments and nodal officers will be stationed at the emergency centre for real-time monitoring. Police and tourism control room feeds will also be integrated for better oversight," Suman said, adding that chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is personally monitoring the preparations to ensure a safe and smooth yatra. Additional CEO (implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi showcased the department's preparedness using GIS mapping and risk mitigation strategies for vulnerable areas. The upcoming mock drill will focus on ensuring all departments function in synergy under the IRS framework. The session concluded with USDMA's additional CEO (admin) Anand Swaroop urging 100% participation from all departments in the drill. Senior officials from NDMA, SDRF and BKTC also participated in the planning session. Dehradun: Ahead of the full-scale mock drill scheduled for Thursday, a tabletop exercise (TTEX) was conducted on Tuesday under the Incident Response System (IRS) framework to enhance disaster preparedness for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. The objective is to evaluate the on-ground preparedness of various line departments in handling potential disasters during the pilgrimage. The mock drill is being jointly organised by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). "These drills aim to test inter-departmental coordination, resource mobilisation and emergency response protocols ahead of the high-footfall yatra season," said Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of the disaster management department. NDMA member Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) reviewed the preparations at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun. He emphasised that such mock drills provide a crucial opportunity to assess the readiness, capabilities and resources of various agencies. Hasnain highlighted the significance of the Char Dham Yatra, calling it "not just a religious journey for Uttarakhand, but a national pilgrimage" attracting lakhs of devotees from across the globe. He also praised the recent forest fire mock drill conducted by USDMA and commended the state's awareness initiatives. "USDMA is fully prepared to tackle any emergency during the pilgrimage. Coordination is ongoing with all line departments and nodal officers will be stationed at the emergency centre for real-time monitoring. Police and tourism control room feeds will also be integrated for better oversight," Suman said, adding that chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is personally monitoring the preparations to ensure a safe and smooth yatra. Additional CEO (implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi showcased the department's preparedness using GIS mapping and risk mitigation strategies for vulnerable areas. The upcoming mock drill will focus on ensuring all departments function in synergy under the IRS framework. The session concluded with USDMA's additional CEO (admin) Anand Swaroop urging 100% participation from all departments in the drill. Senior officials from NDMA, SDRF and BKTC also participated in the planning session.
