Uttarakhand calamity: Madhya Pradesh’s 5,562 pilgrims rescued

Bhopal: As many as 5,562 pilgrims from the state were rescued by Madhya Pradesh’s relief and rescue team during recent calamity in Uttarakhand. Besides, 1850 pilgrims of other states were also rescued by state’s team and moved to relief camps. As on today, 541 pilgrims from the state are missing.
After reviewing Uttarakhand calamity situation on June 19, 2013, the Chief Minister had sent a relief team of state’s 9 officers headed by Endowment and Culture Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma to Uttarakhand to rescue state’s pilgrims. Later, a team comprising 91 members was also sent in view of situation’s gravity.
In Uttarakhand, team from Madhya Pradesh set up calamity assistance-cum-control and relief camps at Shanti Kunj, Rishikesh and Jolly Grant (Dehradun). The team rescued state’s 5,562 pilgrims and provided them loding, food and other necessary facilities at the camps. The team provided medical assistance to 5,188 calamity affected people. from the camps, 1106 pilgrims were brought to Bhopal and Indore by 7 flights of special Boeing aircraft from where they were sent to their respective homes by rail, bus and other means. Assistance for travel expenses as per requirement was provided to 1556 pilgrims and financial assistance to 2931 for fuel in their vehicles.
Powers of Additional Relief Commissioner were given to the team leader Dr. Sanjay Goyal for taking quick decisions regarding relief and rescue. State-level disaster management control room was opened at Bhopal to facilitate families of affected persons. Numbers of control room/helpline were published in newspapers.
Bhopal Collector was appointed as nodal officer and allocated Rs. 2 crore 30 lakh for relief and rescue works. Funds were also allocated to Transport Commissioners to bring back affected pilgrims.
Regarding missing pilgrims, directives have been given to all collectors that if no information is received about them till July 8, then they should be declared presumed dead after completing comprehensive enquiry and provide Rs. 2 lakh assistance each to their families.
The relief team at Uttarakhand was constantly guided and directed by Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Endowment Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma, the Chief Secretary, ACS Home, Principal Secretary Revenue and other senior officers. Calamity affected people as well as people of Uttarakhand have lauded relief and rescue operations undertaken by Madhya Pradesh’s relief team.