About 200 disaster affected persons have remained in Government relief camps more than a week after disaster struck Bastadi area of Pithoragarh district. Search and relief operations are continuing at Bastadi where an estimated eight persons have remained missing since the disaster on July 1.
According to the authorities, there were no reports of natural disaster incidence from anywhere in the State on Thursday though two persons were reported to have sustained minor injury after their jeep fell down a 100 metre gorge near Darkot while going from Munsyari to Madkot during the afternoon.
According to the State authorities, search and relief works are being continued at Bastadi where eight persons are still missing. Officials state that regular sanitisation is being undertaken in the village while search operation is being
conducted with the use of specialised equipment including victim locating device, life detectors, collapsed structure search and rescue equipment and a dog squad.
According to information provided by the Pithoragarh district disaster management centre, 100 packets of dry ration, 50 carpet mats, 50 warm blankets and 50 sheets of
plastic have been distributed among the disaster affected families in Didihat Tehsil while relief box, utensils, warm
blankets and other items have been provided to 11 seriously disaster-affected families in Bastadi village.
The administration avers that so far a sum amounting to Rs 71,64,075 has been given as ex gratia financial assistance to disaster affected families in Pithoragarh district. Along with relief work being undertaken by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the people are being provided water in tankers purified with the help of solar water
purification. Similarly, a sum of Rs 42,00,000 has been provided so far to a total of 255 disaster affected families in the Chamoli district.
Meanwhile, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the bridle route in Pithoragarh district is reported to be underway in a systematic manner. The third batch of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has completed the pilgrimage and returning towards Bundi from Gunji.
Similarly, the fourth batch of pilgrims is in the phase of circumambulation of mount Kailash, fifth batch is in the China-controlled area, the sixth batch had left from Bundi towards Gunji on pilgrimage with the seventh batch of pilgrims is progressing from Almora towards Dharchula.
According to official data, as on July 6, a total of 192 roads were blocked in the State
with 19 more roads getting blocked on July 7 with the authorities managing to clear 61 of the blocked roads. Work is underway for clearing the remaining 150 blocked roads most of which—81—are rural roads.
All the national highways and main roads in Uttarakhand, including the Char Dham Yatra circuit are open for traffic. Information regarding status of disaster-damaged roads in the State has been made available to the public also on the official website of the Public Works Department.
Till date, a total of 1185 villages/peripheral settlements experienced disruption of electricity supply with the power supply being restored in 1160 of these villages.
Power supply had been disrupted to 90 disaster affected villages at Ghat in Chamoli district with the power supply being restored to 77 of these villages. The officials further state that water supply has also been resumed in most of the affected areas.