Rawat orders safety audits after power house breaks

A Lohia Head power house broke on Saturday night in Khatima area due to overflow of water which resulted in flood-like situation and destruction in the adjoining villages.  One labourer has died in the incident so far. 

Many houses were gutted and some cattle were washed away in the sudden overflow of water. The senior officers of local district administration reached on spot, and are constantly monitoring the situation. 

Taking cognisance of the situation, state CM Harish Rawat on Sunday instructed officials to review the safety measures including audit of all power plants in the state and also to setup inquiry committee to probe the cause of disaster. 

All these decisions were taken in a joint meeting chaired by CM with Dr Umakant Panwar, secretary irrigation and senior representatives of irrigation department and Uttarakhand Jal Vidhut Nagam.

In the meeting, it came to the notice that diversion channel of Sharada canal is in direct control of UP irrigation department. CM Harish Rawat spoke to UP Irrigation minister Shivpal Yaday on phone and urged him to find out a long-term solution so that such kind of casualties can be averted in future.  

Rawat also announced Rs 1 lakh monetary relief from CM relief fund to the relatives of worker who died in the incident.