July 18, 2013: Information and infrastructure minister Santosh Lad was given charge of bringing the Karnataka survivors from the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand. He tells Vijay Vaidya about his experiences there and how tough the rescue mission was.

How did you prioritise the operations?

We set up a camp and figured out that Badrinath on top was the real problem area. Many pilgrims from our state were trapped there. Somehow we wanted to ensure that food, medicines and water reached them; evacuation was second priority. But reaching Badrinath was a big challenge. Choppers were the only way we could reach them. Weather was unpredictable, visibility was very bad and roads were washed away. I took it up on myself to somehow reach there. I was able to convince a Sikh pilot to take me to Badrinath with medicines and supplies. The 20-minute chopper ride was a harrowing experience. One wrong move by the pilot would have spelt disaster. The stranded people were traumatized and some who were really sick required urgent medical assistance.

It must have been tough to be labelled as a Karnataka rescue team there considering that the victims were from all parts of India.

Yes, it was tough. However, our team lent a helping hand to all stranded victims. Subsequently when the weather eased out, I used my good offices to airlift 80 tonnes of food grains and get additional Mi-17 choppers for the rescue. Then we started evacuating by sending the old and sick through choppers. I motivated the physically fit younger lot to trek about 8 km below the valley where the army trucks had reached. Some victims who had lost their kin and tour members were reluctant to leave the dead bodies, but we persuaded them. The bodies were cremated with due honour after completing the formalities.

About 14 pilgrims from Karnataka are still missing. Are you still in touch with theUttarakhand authorities on this?

The Uttarakhand authorities have been furnished with all the details of the missing persons including their photos.

Will you moot some action plan to tackle such disasters?

We just cannot plan for such natural calamities. However, we have to devise a mechanism to minimize the damage and anticipate better.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 18, 2013.