Shimla, August 2, 2024: Himachal Pradesh has deployed ten drones in the cloudburst-affected areas for search operations in the deluge-scarred Samej Khad, Malana, Kurpan, Ghanvi, and various other locations in the state.  DGP has set up the 24X7 State Disaster Command and Control Centre in Police Headquaters for mitigation of disaster.  

On the night of July 31, 2024, the regions surrounding the Shrikhand Mahadev peak, including the Samez, Kurpan, and Ganvi ravines, as well as the Malana Nala originating from behind the Kartik mountain, faced catastrophic destruction.

It seemed like divine intervention, with the cloudburst over Shrikhand-Kartik mountain resembling the “Rudra Rup” of Lord Shiva.

The devastation was unimaginable.

The  drones have sent pictures of cloudburst’s ferocity that is beyond comprehension. The resultant flash floods  cut off the two main routes to Shrikhand Mahadev, Jaon/Baghipul and Ganvi/Phancha, as if signaling that no one should reach the sacred peak, preserving its sanctity.

Over 50 lives were tragically lost (feared washed away)  in the torrential rains and flash floods on the morning of August 1, with the village of Samej wiped out of existence. 

The scientific  investigating of such cloud bursts have yet to come. One view is that the reckless cutting of the fragile mountains and the trees  for roads, tunnels for power projects is also a factor.

Most of the valleys were cloud bursts struck are the sharp V-shaped valleys where temperature rise in  hot thermals and clouds overlooking the mountain tops result in torrential rains.        

Drones show how these ferocious khads have been reduced to the taming streams flowing into the deluge scarred flood plains as if marking their "own no-men's land territory". Will we  learn from this?    

This disaster calls for a ban on all yatras to sacred mountain tops to save our ecology and life-giving water sources.

The annual crowds defile these holy places, turning spiritual journeys into mere personal travel tamashas, turning the scared mountains into dumpyards for filth and trash.

You find these neo-pilgrims in reels, selfies on Facebook X eating junk snacks and drinks against the Srikhand backdrop. 

Meanwhile DGP of Himachal Pradesh highlighted the establishment of the State Disaster Command and Control Centre (SDCC) at Police Headquarters, Shimla.

The SDCC, supervised by IGP Admin, will enhance disaster management capabilities and operate 24x7 in four shifts until mid-September 2024. 

The SDCC will include a control room with multiple communication lines, high-speed internet, and video conferencing facilities; a disaster management software system; GIS mapping; a critical resources database; and CCTV, drone surveillance, and live data analysis.

The SDCC’s operational guidelines include immediate response upon disaster alerts, continuous communication with district control centers, timely public information dissemination, and the deployment of search and rescue teams in coordination with medical services.

The DGP of Himachal Pradesh chaired a meeting on August 1, 2024, to review the procurement of communication and monitoring devices and the establishment of the SDCC at Police Headquarters, Shimla.  

DGP has directed to procure  five satellite phone sets with additional batteries and power banks, along with extra batteries for the already procured 31 satellite phones.

They drones with payload capabilities ranging from 1kg to 15kg will be procured, with the DIG TTR and SP SDRF determining the costs and specifications.

A dedicated team within TTR will operate these drones, and personnel training will begin immediately.

This terrible disaster is a direct consequence of the excessive crowds during this year's Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra.

Mahadev's response to the entertainment and vulgarity in the name of the Yatra is evident. It is time for everyone to reflect and reconsider our actions towards nature and these sacred places. 

Officials attending the meeting included Shri Abhishek Trivedi, IPS, ADGP Law and Order, Shri Z H Zaidi, IPS, IGP CTS,- Shri Gurdev Sharma, IPS, DIG TTR,- Shri Arijit Sen Singh Thakur, IPS, SP SDRF, Shri Narvir Singh Rathour, Additional SP TTR, Shri Kamal Kishore, DySP CTS.

May Mahadev protect everyone!

COMMENTS:

1. Wide & informative coverage.

The people are extensively polluting the environment and for this, we must be ready to face disastrous consequences- PREM PAL RANTA (Formet District and Sessions Judge).

2  There is a definite change in the rain pattern specially during monsoon past couple of years.The cloudbursts has become a common phenomenon.Coupled with climate change the reckless exploitation of nature for our selfish ends is causing untold miseries to the people in affected areas.

It appears as if nature is taking revenge for all the bad deeds of human beings.We need to have a relook at the development model for the ecologically sensitive hilly areas

-MOHAN CHAUHAN(IAS).