Politicians grieve loss in Uttarkashi floods, call for national strategy to save mountains
Politicians across party lines on Wednesday expressed grief at the devastation caused by flash floods in Uttarkashi, with a Congress lawmaker claiming that the tragedy was a direct consequence of the widening of roads, done under the Centre’s Char Dham Yatra highway project.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the incident “extremely tragic” and urged for long-term preventive planning.
“Every year, whether it’s Himachal, Uttarakhand, or Wayanad, we are witnessing such disasters. We need a comprehensive strategy for prevention. In Wayanad, we saw how the administration and political parties came together to plan early evacuation,” she told reporters inside the Parliament complex.
“If we can do it there, why not everywhere?” she added.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said it was time to revive socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia’s call to save the Himalayas and its rivers.
“Not just Uttarakhand, but the entire hill region is repeatedly witnessing such large-scale destruction. We all need to come together and work in that direction,” he said.
“Heart-wrenching,” said Kangana Ranaut, the BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.
“Our pahadi people are living in constant fear. When nature unleashes such fury, you can only bow your head and pray. We hope relief efforts go swiftly, and the government has assured full support,” said the actor-politician.
– PTI
