New Delhi:
Almost an year after unprecedented flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand wreaked havoc uprooting countless families and resulting in loss of life and destruction on an unimaginable scale, News Nation has revealed some shocking facts that have exposed the negligence of the Uttarakhand government.
Contrary to Uttarakhand government's claims that last rites of all the dead bodies were performed, several decomposed bodies and skeletons have been found in Jungle Chatti.
When News Nation's team reached Jangal Chatti, it found several skeletons of the people who were killed in the disaster, clearly indicating that they were not cremated as claimed by the Uttarakhand government.
The heart-breaking footage shows belongings, clothes, bags, shoes and suitcases of the pilgrims scattered in the area.
These pilgrims, in a bid to rescue themselves, had climbed up to the mountains, but died as help did not reach them.
The question is if News Nation can reach there, why can't the government? Isn’t it the moral responsibility of the government to cremate the dead bodies of the pilgrims?
Meanwhile, after watching News Nation’s report, Raghav Langer, the District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, has assured that a team will be sent to the dense forest areas and a combing operation will be carried out.
In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst centered on Uttarakhand caused devastating floods and landslides in the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami.
As of 16 July 2013, according to figures provided by the Uttarakhand government, more than 5,700 people were "presumed dead." This total included 934 local residents.
Destruction of bridges and roads left about 100,000 pilgrims and tourists trapped in the valleys leading to three of the four Hindu Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The Indian Air Force, the Indian Army, and paramilitary troops evacuated more than 110,000 people from the flood ravaged rea.
Landslides, due to the floods, damaged several houses and structures, killing those who were trapped. The heavy rains resulted in large flashfloods and massive landslides.
Entire villages and settlements such as Gaurikund and the market town of Ram Bada, a transition point to Kedarnath, were obliterated, while the market town of Sonprayag suffered heavy damage and loss of lives.
