One battalion of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will be formed in Uttarakhand on the lines of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Four SDRF companies will be posted in the State with one each in Rudraprayag, Joshimath, Bagehswar and Champawat.
The number of missing people listed has increased to over 4,000 and those not found will be declared dead after July 15. The State has set a target of reopening routes to Gangotri, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Hemkund by September end this year.
Addressing media persons in Dehradun on Monday, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that the State had decided to form SDRF taking cognisance of the need for immediate rescue and relief operations, considering the vulnerability of Uttarakhand to floods, landslides and earthquake. Personnel aged below 40 years from the PAC and other organisations will be appointed in SDRF and they will be trained by the NDRF.
Regarding the number of persons missing since the disaster struck the State on June 16-17, Bahuguna said that a total of 4,045 persons are missing of whom 795 are from Uttarakhand. Those who remain missing till July 15 will be declared dead and the bereaved families will be paid compensation.
The CM said that the State Government had also decided to pay `25,000 per gharat (water mill) damaged in the disaster. Mussoorie, Nainital and other tourist destinations have not suffered any damage; so there should be no hesitation in visiting these towns.
The State Government has set a target of reopening roads to Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Hemkund by the end of September. Proper arrangements are being made for the Kanwar Yatra, but in view of relief measures and work on reconstruction of damaged roads, the Kanwars will not be allowed to move ahead of Rishikesh.
The CM said that the damage assessment will be completed soon and a report based on this will be sent to the Government of India. The State will seek a `500 crore package from the Centre for flood control works.
The bodies lying on the surface at Kedarnath were cremated with proper religious rites, but special equipment will be required to extract bodies buried in debris, Bahuguna said.