Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
SGPC TO ENSURE LANGAR FOR THE PILGRIMS
HIGH LEVEL TEAM UNDER DILRAJ SINGH AND GAUTAM CHEEMA RUSHED ON THE SPOT SUPERVISE RESCUE OPERATIONS
24X7 CONTROL ROOM SET UP AT PUNJAB CIVIL SECRETARIAT FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF NEXT OF KIN OF DECEASED AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF STRANDED PILGRIMS
Chandigarh, August 18- Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed deep shock and anguish over the tragic accident in which seven people were killed and several others trapped after a giant rock boulder hit the sacred Gurudwara complex at Manikaran sahib in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
Expressing profound grief and sorrow over this disastrous accident, the Chief Minister shared his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved families and prayed to the Almighty to give them courage to bear this irreparable loss in the hour of crisis and grant peace to the departed souls. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced an Ex Gratia grant of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 25,000 for the seriously wounded adding that the entire expenditure for the treatment of injured would be borne by the state government.
The Chief Minister, who had a telephonic conversation with his Himachal Pradesh counterpart Mr. Virbhadra Singh today evening, assured him of full and immediate help from the state government in rescue operations. He also urged Mr. Virbhadra Singh to extend all possible help to the pilgrims stranded in and around Gurdwara complex at Manikaran Sahib and also impressed upon him to instruct the district administration Kullu to gear up the rescue machinery.
The Deputy Chief Minister and President Shiromani Akali Dal Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal was personally reviewing the situation and has directed the SGPC Chief Jathedar Avtar Singh to immediately send a team to assess the damage caused to the Gurdwara complex for undertaking repair and reconstruction of the damaged portion expeditiously. The SGPC would also ensure langar (community kitchen) there for the pilgrims, which has been badly disrupted due to this incident.
The state Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal was in constant touch with Deputy Commissioner Kullu to keep a close tab on the situation. According to Deputy Commissioner Kullu seven persons have died and 11 injured, of which two severely injured have been shifted to PGIMER Chandigarh and remaining were sent to civil hospital Kullu for treatment.
Meanwhile, on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, the state government today dispatched a high level rescue team to oversee the evacuation of the pilgrims stranded at Manikaran Sahib. As per the orders a team headed by Special Secretary Revenue Mr. Dilraj Singh and Inspector General of Police Mr. Gautam Cheema has been rushed to oversee the evacuation of the aforesaid stranded pilgrims. The team, comprising of officers of civil and Police administration besides Doctors and Para Medical staff, has been directed to liaise with the Government of Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect to carry out rescue operations. A 24X7 control room has been set up at Punjab Civil Secretariat Chandigarh to review the situation with regard to this unfortunate incident. The next of the Kin of deceased and other family members of the stranded pilgrims could contact at the control room with telephone numbers 0172-2740859 and 0172-2740397.
