Badrinath MlA Rajendra Singh Bhandari who claimed that he was with stranded pilgrims and disaster-affected residents of Badrinath for arranging shelter, food and other essential items
during the Uttarakhand disaster has blamed the Weather department for the high number of casualties in the recent disaster. He said, “Had the Weather department provided timely forecast to the Government about cloudburst and heavy rains on June 16 and 17, the Government would have prepared well and casualties could have been minimised. After two days of incessant rainfall in the mountainous regions, I thought that higher reaches might face some disaster,” he added.
After inspecting disaster affected area in his constituency, Bhandari said that seven villages have been completely washed away in the devastation. Several link roads are damaged and the power and water supply has been adversely affected in the constituency and other adjoining areas. Apart from this, around one lakh locals and youth of adjoining areas who used to earn a living at Badrinath have lost their source of income.
In a telephonic interview, Manoj Kumar tried to find out the current status of disaster-affected areas of Badrinath and other adjoining areas apart from the arrangements made for around 20,000 stranded pilgrims evacuated by air to Sahastradhara helipad and Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun.
You had complained to the Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna about anomalies in rescue and relief operations when he visited Badrinath to meet the stranded pilgrims. Are you satisfied wibbth the rescue and relief operations nowIJ
There is no need to talk about that as all the pilgrims were evacuated and as of now, we should focus on rehabilitation of the disasteraffected persons who lost everything in this disaster.
How did you provide relief to the pilgrims and locals affected by the disasterIJ Have you allocated money from your MlA local area development fund for thisIJ
After the disaster, I have been in touch with the locals and pilgrims. I have also been in touch with the district administration and State Government for providing all the basic needs of the locals.
Food grains and packets were brought by helicopter or mini trucks to Badrinath and provided to the affected persons. I have spent around `six lakh for relief in the form of food, medicine and other essentials to the pilgrims and residents following the disaster.
How many pilgrims were stranded in the Badrinath and what had you done for evacuating them and providing them basic amenities like food, water and other essentialsIJ
All the stranded pilgrims were brought to safe place. I was in touch with Government for rescuing pilgrims. Around 20,000 people stranded in Badrinath were evacuated by IAF helicopters to Dehradun and other places. Some of them walked to locations from where they used Government arranged vehicle to reach Dehradun. Shelters were made at Badrinath, Guptkashi and other places. local residents also provided food to the stranded people by establishing community kitchens. Apart from this, food was prepared by the district administration at community kitchen in Government schools.
According to your estimation what is the extent of damage to government and private properties in this devastationIJ
As, I have already told you seven villages including Pulla, Dhudar, Govindghat, lambagad, Pandukeshwar and Pinolaghat were severely damaged in the constituency. It is very difficult to say exact figure regarding loss to Government properties but the loss is estimated to be in crores of rupees.
How many persons died and how many buildings collapsed or were partly damagedIJ
I have been touring in the constituency for last few days. Most of the residents of my constituency and other parts of Chamoli district have been adversely affected. Around 200 houses collapsed and around 400 were partially damaged. As of now, I am not in a position to tell you about actual loss of life in the disaster.
The Government schools of seven villages have collapsed. Other Government buildings like Government primary health centre and Aanganwadi centres have been damaged. As department
officers have been deployed for assessment of the damage to Government and private properties this picture will be clear soon. Government schools are closed till July 1.
How will the affected locals be rehabilitatedIJ
Thanks to the Indian soldiers who worked hard for rescuing stranded people. The chief minister has done good by providing compensation to small 'dhabas' and hotels. In the past the owners of dhabas were not provided compensation in such cases.
How did your political journey beginIJ
I was students’ union leader in Gopeshwar Degree College while pursuing llB degree there. I wished to have a job in defense forces but I could not get through. My father was in defense services and I never wanted to join politics.
Circumstances compelled me to join politics. I fought election as an independent candidate from Nandprayag in the year 2007 and won the election by around 3000 votes. In the BJP Government I was made Cabinet Minister. Before the declaration of election date, I joined Congress and following dissolution of Nandprayag Assembly constituency in delimitation I fought election from Badrinath.