'National policy for disaster-prone regions need of the hour'

A national policy for disaster- prone mountainous regions and an early warning system are the need of the hour, said National Disaster Management Authority member V K Duggal, who was the Centre's coordinator for rescue operations in flood-hit Uttarakhand.
He said NDMA's next step is to develop a national policy and early warning system so that people could be rescued immediately if a natural tragedy strikes.
At a function organised by ex-servicemen organisation Rashtriya Sainik Sanstha here today, Duggal said rebuilding and resettlement of affected people in Uttarakhand is the next big challenge for them even as numerous agencies are working to restore connectivity to several villages, which remain cut-off.

He said disaster of the scale of Uttarakhand tragedy requires a national effort and all agencies, from armed forces to civilian authorities, pulled in to help the victims.
"It was a national effort," he said of the rescue operations.
Chief Justice Altamas Kabir was the chief guest on the occasion.