Governor Reviews Relief and Rescue Operations in Dharali Disaster, Says — “Preparedness is the Key to Disaster Management”,

Dehradun — Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd) today visited the State Emergency Operations Centre at IT Park, Dehradun, to conduct a detailed review of relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts related to the disaster that struck Dharali, Uttarkashi, on August 5.

Commending all forces, officials, and personnel working on the ground, the Governor described it as an excellent example of collective responsibility and team spirit. He praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s leadership, saying he set an ideal example in guiding the state through this crisis.

The Governor lauded the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) for coordinating among all departments and closely monitoring rescue operations from the emergency centre, calling the efforts “highly commendable.” He noted that Uttarakhand is geographically prone to disasters, making continuous preparedness, learning, and updating strategies essential.

Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Governor said that in the Dharali disaster, swift decisions ensured timely assistance to local residents. He directed that relief and rescue operations be documented and analysed to create a clearer roadmap for the future, thereby enhancing disaster management efficiency. He also stressed the need to update USDMA’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regularly based on field experiences.

Considering the ongoing monsoon, all agencies have been instructed to remain on 24×7 alert mode. The Governor emphasised, “More important than the incident itself is how we respond to it — this determines how much the loss of life and property can be minimised.”

He also appreciated the role of the media in conveying accurate information to the public and preventing rumours. On this occasion, the Governor held a virtual dialogue with scientists from IIT Roorkee and other expert teams, reviewing progress on key operations such as water drainage from the lake formed in Harshil and the safety assessment of the Dharali-Mukhba bridge. The expert team informed that the survey work is underway, and the report will be submitted to the government soon.,