Declare Uttarkhand catastrophe a national tragedy: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today demanded that the Uttarakhand calamity be declared as a "national tragedy" and mooted drafting of a comprehensive national policy for disaster management.

Describing the Uttarakhand catastrophe as a "fierce tragedy," Chouhan said as many as 5,035 pilgrims from the state have been safely evacuated, official sources said.

He was interacting with pilgrims from the state in Dehradun.

Chouhan said that in order to search missing pilgrims from the state, a team of officials led by Inspector General P S Phalnikar, who was earlier posted with the ITBP in Uttarakhand, will be positioned in the hill state.

The chief minister also allayed concerns of the pilgrims and assured them of all possible help from the state government.

Hailing Madhya Pradesh Public Relations and Religious Endowment Minister Laxmikant Sharma, Chouhan said a total of 5,035 pilgrims were safely evacuated from the rain-ravaged state.

He said the state government has deployed 13 buses, hired seven planes and pressed into service helicopters, which also included choppers from the state, to facilitate the rescue.

Chouhan also met Ramdev and discussed ongoing rescue and relief measures with him.