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Have we forgotten Uttarakhand?

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In spite of the repeated tragedies at places of pilgrimage, the administration in the states as well as at the Centre, have not learned any worthwhile lessons with regard to disaster management.  On paper, we have a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) comprising of people who have no time for any useful work connected with this body. The NDMA, under the chairmanship of a politician with cabinet rank, did not call even one meeting in nearly two years. 

The administration was aware that hundreds of thousands of pilgrims would congregate in Badrinath and Kedarnatth in the days close to the onset of the monsoon. Torrential rain in the hills is a regular feature, so the state – assisted by the Centre – should have stationed workforces at vantage points and been alert to early warnings. Unfortunately, there has been no evidence at all of any preparedness for any such eventuality.  Thanks to the determination and sacrifice of the Army and the Air Force thousands of lives were saved. They set us an example by responding to the calamity with courage and fortitude. Not to miss mention of the tremendous role of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police men.  On the other hand, some politicians rushed to the area of the disaster, in violation of guidelines, hindering the operations. They should instead be co-ordinating collection of resources and materials that are required for rehabilitation. But the episode has been practically forgotten.
—Major Mathew Oommen (retd), Pune

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