After lambasting the Congress-led State Government for not initiating rescue works within a day when disaster struck the State, Uttarakhand BJP chief Tirath Singh Rawat has demanded from the Union Government to declare the devastation in Uttarakhand a national disaster.
While addressing mediapersons in a Press conference held at State party office in Dehradun on Monday, Rawat claimed that the State Government is not disclosing the correct casualty figure.
He claimed that around 10,000 causalities took place in the areas hit by the disaster that wreaked havoc in the mountainous parts of Uttarakhand. Rawat alleged that one expectant lady, Nagina and the newlyborn baby had died at village Dakla near Sangamchatti, Uttarkashi after she was denied for air lifting by the authorities.
He alleged that the Congress-led state government has completely become insensitive towards the victims as instead of the air lifting the victim on priority, the ministers were taken for aerial tours of affected areas.
After refusing to disclose the name of Minister, who was air lifted first instead of the expectant mother, Rawat said that he will surely disclose when right time comes.
He said the death figures could be increased manifold, if the Army, NDRF and para-military forces was not called on for carrying rescue operations in the disaster hit areas of Uttarakhand. Rawat claimed that party workers are organizing the relief works in the disaster hit area of the state. Since most of the victims were rescued from the disaster hit areas of Uttarakhand, the State Government should focus now to rehabilitate the displaced villagers.
According to him, he noticed the acute shortage of food grains, potable water and medical facilities during his tour in the disaster hit areas of the State. Rawat said that he will call on the meeting of party office bearers in order to carry relief and rehabilitation works more efficiently in the disaster hit areas of Uttarakhand. He says that around 500 villagers were completely washed away in the heavy rains and floods experienced in the State.