UPHILL TASK AHEAD FOR CM UTTARAKHAND TSR TO CONTROL INCREASING ACCIDENTAL CASUALTIES/ COMMISSIONER AND DIG TRANSFERRED

After facing tremendous opposition and hue and cry from the cross section of the people and the media, finally the chief minister of Uttarakhand has relented and exhibited stern posture towards the senior nost bureaucrats of Garhwal Uttarakhand holding them responsible for negligence and complacense towards the tragic accidental casualties at Nainidaanda block, which shockingly claimed 48 precious lives of innocent commuters on 1st of July sending shock waves in the entire himalayan state and the country. Showing tremendous seriousness in the whole episode after declaring compensation of rupees two lakhs to each of family of the deceased and visiting the severly injured at DHUMAKOT hospital the deeply concerned T. S. Rawat has without wasting anytime transferred the Garhwal range commissioner Mr. Jawalkar and Deputy Inspector General of Police Pushpak Jyoti else where in order to pacify the anger and annoyance of the common masses.

He also held Transport Tax Officer Nihal Jha and Dhuma Kot Police Station Incharge Mr. Kathaith directly respinsible for the lapses and transferred them from their present positions. This is perhaps for the first time that the chief minister Rawat has shown guts to take these hard decisions after this massive tragedy of Nainidaanda block that claimed 48 precious lives. There have been over 60 or more deaths in the entire state in various accidents this month in different localities given an unambiguous impression that negligence and complacense at the level of the erring drivers and the officials of the concerned departments have been the core reasons behind these tragic happenings.

Though accidents had been occuring in the Uttarakhand state since a long time especially during the Yatra seasons in view of the heavy traffic movement, over loading of buses, uncontrolled fast driving, existence of pot holes on the roads and several other reasons like drivers in inebriated conditions etc but never had there been such a huge casualties as was in the case of the NAINIDAANDA block accident killing 48 passengers on the spot in a single go. Even the prime minister of the country Narendra Modi and the union home minister have issued statements expressing their grief and condolences towards the bereaved families thus compelling the state administration to gear itself up to counter the critical situation by announcing immediate compensation of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceaseds’ and holding the commisioner Garhwal range and DIG responsible for various lapses thus transferring them elsewhere.

A magisterial enquiry has also been ordered in this episode to find the actual reasons behind the accident and holding officials responsiblefor utter negligence and failure to perform their requisite duties. Meanwhile about nine bodies of the deceaseds of this accident have been consigned to flames and the rest are in pipeline after the completion of necessary technical formalities like post mortom etc.

While we extend our heartfelt condolences to bereaved families we are of the strong opinion that had the government been seriously concerned and shown vigilance as it has now, such accidents could have been be avoided and averted quite before. The transferred Commisioner of Garhwal range Jawalkar will temperorily look after the charge of Tourism and some other departments whereas Pushpak Jyoti would be incharge of SIT as its DIG. Shailesh Bagoli has taken charge as Garhwal Commisioner and Ajay Rautela would be the new DIG in place of Pushpak Jyoti.