Media is exceptionally fast at correlating causes, and speculating effects. In the last week of May, 2021 it was sighting of some cracks in the upper reaches of Rishiganga river valley that was correlated the avalanche incidence of February 7, 2021 that caused devastation in the downstream areas, and presently it is the early arrival of the SW monsoon.
After eight years the monsoon has yet again arrived in the state before schedule. Pre monsoon rains following relatively dry winter season have already caused landslide, and debris flow incidences at many places across the state, and despite reeling under the scare of Covid these untimely incidences have made people apprehensive of disasters during the monsoon season. Correlation of early arrival of the monsoon with 2013 like devastation is however something too much to speculate, and amounts to scaring the masses.
One needs to understand that rather than the monsoon it was the unusual interaction with the Westerlies that caused the unprecedented rains, and ensuing devastation in June 2013. Nature really is not governed by precedences, and one really cannot be sure if yet another interaction of the SW monsoon with Westerlies would have an impact similar to that of 2013.
It was eight years back on June 16-17, 2013 that Uttarakhand witnessed the worst disaster of recent times. Many would have memories of that disaster still fresh, and June 16-17 provide media an opportunity of reflecting, and reviewing the preparations of the state.
This article is however to draw attention towards an important but forgotten aspect of 2013 disaster. Many around would not even know that as many as 48 persons of various government agencies lost their lives while trying to rescue people, save lives, provide relief, and ensure speedy recovery.
Is it not perfect time to remember these bravehearts who have remained unsung all through?
As per the records 25 persons of Revenue, Police, and Forest departments of the state government lost their lives on June 16-17, 2013 itself, and these include the ones at the wireless post at Gaurikund who despite being overwhelmed by floodwaters sent across the first message of the tragedy in the evening hours of June 16, 2013.
Is it not an irony that no one really has details of all these personnel ?
Then on 25 June 2013 it was the ill-fated Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter that crashed while engaged on a rescue mission. 05 IAF personnel; Wg. Cdr. Darryl Castelino, Ft. Lt. Tapan Kapoor, Ft. Lt. K. Praveen, JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh and CPL Sudhakar Yadav were killed in this incidence together with 09 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF); Second In-charge Nityanand Gupta, Inspector Bhim Singh, SI Satish Kumar, CT K. Vinaygan, CT Pawar Sashikant, CT Ahir Rao, CT Basawa Raj, CT Santosh, and CT Sanjeev Kumar, and 06 personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP); SI/GD Jayendra Prasad, CT/GD Nand Ram, CT/GD Bibhuti Roy, CT/GD Sarvesh Kumar, CT/GD Ajay Lal, and CT/GD Joman P.G.
It is important to note out here that despite this tragedy killing 20 neither churning of IAF helicopter rotors did not halt even for a moment which is testimony to the dedication, and commitment of our forces to their mission. In fact 2013 Uttarakhand rescue operation became the biggest aerial rescue mission ever, and 39165 persons were evacuated by air.
It was a chopper yet again that crashed on July 24, 2013 at Garurchatti. Owned by Trans Bharat Aviation the helicopter had gone to Kedarnath to drop Police personnel the previous day, and could not return due to bad weather, and low visibility. The pilot, Capt. Dhariwal, and the technician Abhay were killed in this incidence.
Then on July 31, 2013 Ajay Arora, SDM Almora while on duty in Kedarnath was swept away in the Mandakini river as he slipped off a temporary bridge while going to Garud Chatti camp. His body could not be retrieved despited rigorous search.
Don’t you think 48 is quite big a number for the casualty of rescuers in any post-disaster operation, and this is enough to put forth the adverse weather, and geographic conditions in which rescue operations were carried out by personnel of various agencies on the aftermath of June 16-17, 2013 disaster.
Should we not have a memorial for these bravehearts at Kedarnath?
If not anything else it would remind people that rescue operations do cost heavily, and perhaps this would motivate them to be extra vigilant to avoid disasters to the extent possible.
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