Declare Uttarakhand tragedy as national calamity: CAIT

NEW DELHI: Concerned over devastation in Uttarakhand due to flash floods and landslips, Confederation of All India Traders today urged the government to declare it a "national calamity".

"The trading community urges Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare the Uttarakhand tragedy as national calamity and expedite relief assistance," CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandewal said in a statement.

Besides, the confederation said if required, a special cell should be set up in Delhi to expedite relief material for thousands left stranded at tourist spots and pilgrim centres.

The Prime Minister yesterday announced Rs 1,000 crore for disaster relief measures in Uttarakhand.

In its report to the Union Home Ministry, the State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre in Uttarakhand has said casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands with about 90 'dharamashalas' (rest houses for pilgrims) swept away in the flash floods. However, the toll has been kept officially at 150.

CAIT also offered assistance from the trading community of the country to the government for undertaking relief and rescue operations in the rain-ravaged hill state.

However, it said, the incident has shown how the need to improve the country's disaster management system.

"Our disaster management system is totally neglected and always faces funds shortage. So, there is a need to maintain an efficient disaster system for which mock drills should be carried out at regular intervals," it said.

To meet the challenges of relief operations, the government should ask companies owning private helicopters to come forward for rescue operations in addition to state-owned choppers, it said.