Rawat asks DMs to ensure there are no deaths due to cold

With icy winds sweeping the state the Uttarakhand govt has asked the District Magistrates to take measures to ensure that there are no deaths due to cold.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat reviewed the cold situation in the state through a video-conference yesterday, an official release issued today said.
He enquired about the number of roads closed, villages where power supply was affected and at how many places bonfire was lit up, it said.
The CM has asked DMs to focus on areas where there is heavy snowfall and also asked them to use earth-movers and other primary equipments to clear roads which are affected by heavy snowfall.

According to him, additional special funds of Rs 15 lakh for each district has been alloted for clearing of roads and another Rs 5 lakh has been given for providing necessary material for bone-fire.
Rawat said that no death should occur in the state due to cold and seeing the winter, free wood should be provided to poor people.

All powers have been delegated to DMs in this regard and if any death occurs due to cold, then they will be held responsible for it, the CM said.
All homeless persons and persons residing in makeshift slums should be taken to safe places, he said, adding that all SPs should ensure that night patrolling happens and such persons are taken to secure places.

Rawat had also directed all district Chief Health Officers (CMOs) to ensure that mobile medical vans are functioning.
Meanwhile, when asked about a section of media reports that 24 persons have died due to cold in the state, Media Adviser to Chief Minister Surendra Kumar told PTI that so far only one death has occurred due to cold.