The residents of disaster affected areas in Uttarkashi are still facing the threats posed by heavy rains and landslide.
The water level in Bhagirathi and Asi Ganga rivers has not decreased much even as the level of discontent among the locals is rising due to the failure of the authorities to effectively execute protection and relief measures. The district administration has shifted the persons residing on the banks of these rivers.
Due to the incessant rains, the national highway to Gangotri and Yamunotri is blocked for the last two days and 135 villages in the affected areas are still without road links. The district administration has yet to reach various rural areas which had suffered damage in the past from cloudburst and incessant rains.
Many families are still living in such disaster affected areas, which still face the threat of disaster. The people are facing hardships due to inadequate food and shelter. With the cloudburst destroying even pedestrian paths, it has become very hard for the villagers to reach the relief camps or the nearest markets.
The disaster victims said that the many roads including the pedestrian routes which were damaged by disaster in Uttarkashi have not yet been repaired which is creating serious problems for the villagers. Additional District Magistrate Uttarkashi BK Mishra claimed that the disaster affected people of 135 villages in the district are being supplied food stuffs and relief materials either by mule or helicopter.
The two choppers are operating in the district to supply food stuffs to the affected villages which are totally cut off from the road links. Mishra said that Rs 7.75 crore has been distributed as relief according to Government norms. Every effort is being made to clear the roads, but the incessant rain is creating hurdles in this work.
Rishikesh-Gangotri and Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway are blocked for the last two days. Mishra said that 10 relief camps are being operated in the district.