At a time when the State authorities have declared completion of search and rescue works in all disaster-affected villages except Bastadi in Pithoragarh district, the weather forecast for the period July 7, 8, 9 and 10 states the possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Uttarakhand and elsewhere.
While some members of the political fraternity are alleging that rescue and relief works are not up to the desired level as being claimed by the State Government, questions have also been raised in the mass and social media about the State Government allegedly preventing the actual extent of damaged caused by the disaster from being disclosed in the public sphere.
According to the all India severe weather warning issued by the National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), on Wednesday, on July 7 heavy to very heavy rain is very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand among other parts of India. The possibility of heavy to very heavy rain has been forecast as very likely over isolated places in the State also on July 8, 9 and 10.
While the State authorities aver that relief and repair works are being executed efficiently, skeptics and politicians have expressed doubt alleging that the State Government is trying to prevent the ‘actual’ state of devastation from being revealed. Such measures are purportedly being taken to prevent detrimental impact on the arrival of tourists and pilgrims apart from political repercussions.
While the Congress-led State Government accuses the BJP-led Central Government of partiality and apathy purportedly exacerbating the repercussions of the disaster, observers point out that both the public and Government establishment need to focus more on the meteorological conditions and precautionary measures while also maintaining a higher level of alertness to mitigate further devastation especially in the disaster affected areas in the coming days.