Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has issued several directions to the Health Department that include a ban on leave in the wake of the Dharali disaster. He is personally monitoring relief work.
The state's Health Secretary, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, has given instructions to immediately send a team of specialist doctors to Dharali in view of the seriousness of the disaster. This team includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, physicians and orthopaedic surgeons. The operation of the team has been entrusted to the director, medical health and family welfare, Garhwal division, who has been appointed as the nodal officer in this disaster.
All the major hospitals of the state have been directed to keep beds reserved for the treatment of seriously injured patients. Also, the leave of all medical officers and staff has been banned with immediate effect, until the situation becomes normal. It is also to be ensured that there is no shortage of medicines, surgical material and medical equipment in the hospitals.
The state's 108 ambulance services have been put on high alert in Dharali and surrounding affected areas. They are to provide immediate first aid to the injured through these services, take them to the nearest hospitals and ensure first aid to the vulnerable sections. Ambulance services from surrounding areas have also been sent to Dharali.
The health secretary said that an emergency control room active 24x7 has been established in Uttarkashi district. This control room will continuously monitor relief and medical operations and establish necessary coordination, so that any kind of obstacles in relief work can be immediately tackled.
He has dubbed it a very sensitive matter in which sensitivity and promptness are expected from every officer and employee. He has warned that if there is any kind of negligence, strict administrative action will be taken against the concerned officials.
BKTC throws open all rest houses to pilgrims free of cost
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All rest houses of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, situated on the Char Dham Yatra route, will be available to pilgrims free of cost in light of the disaster at Dharali, which is situated on the Shri Gangotri Dham Marg.
The Committee has also appealed to pilgrims to pay heed to the weather forecast before starting their travel. The BKTC has further announced that all its dharamshalas and rest houses along the Yatra route will be made available free of cost to Char Dham pilgrims throughout the current rainy season in the event of any disaster or crisis. Necessary orders have been issued in this regard.
As per a statement issued by the BKTC, the Yatra route has been obstructed at many places and pilgrims are stranded. Thus, the Committee has taken it upon itself to offer shelter to pilgrims. The BKTC has dharamshalas and rest houses in Rishikesh, Devprayag, Tehri, Ghanshali, Pauri, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Guptkashi, Sonprayag, Chamoli, Nandprayag, and Joshimath. In normal circumstances, pilgrims are charged a very nominal fee for boarding in these.
