New Delhi, (the states. news) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre is taking all necessary steps to normalise the situation after the devastation caused by avalanche in Chamoli.
The state government is being provided will all possible help in relief and rescue operations, he added.
When the House assembled at 1600 hrs, Mr Shah made a statement in the Lok Sabha “regarding an avalanche in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand”.
The Union Home Minister said the Central Government is monitoring the situation, PM himself is monitoring it.
‘Both the control rooms of the Home Ministry are monitoring the situation round the clock and Uttarakhand is being provided with all the possible help,’ Mr Shah said.
Mr Shah said as per the information received from the Uttarakhand government yesterday till 1700 hrs, 20 people have lost their lives and six people have been injured.
According to the information, a total of 197 persons are missing, including 139 working in
NTPC’s under construction project, apart from 46 employees working in Rishiganga project and 12 villagers.
The state government has collected this information through various sources, in which change is possible, he said.
On February 7, a sudden rise was seen in the water level of the Rishi Ganga and NTPC’s power plant also got hit.
The Union Home Minister further informed that 12 people of NTPC project were safely rescued from one tunnel.
He said 15 people of Rishiganga project were also rescued at the time of incident.
Mr Shah said 25-35 people were feared trapped in second tunnel of NTPC project and efforts are underway on a war-footing to rescue them.
He said the State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakhs each for the next of the kin of the deceased.
Mr Shah said five helicopters of the Air Force have also been deployed in the operation. One control of the Army has also been set up at Joshimath, he said.
After Mr Shah’s statement, the Lok Sabha stood in silence in memory of the victims. (uni) (media saheb.com)
Chamoli avalanche: Uttarakhand being provided with all possible help, says Amit Shah
