Other States - Rajasthan   

Raje draws flak for flood handling

Special Correspondent

`Total breakdown of government machinery in affected areas'

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government's inept handling of the flood situation in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts has drawn flak. There seems to be a total breakdown of the government machinery in the area where at least two-dozen villages are marooned and hundreds of people are missing or feared dead.

Among the many cases of the Government machinery leaving people to their fate in the swirling waters -- an unusual natural calamity for the desert terrain -- has been the heart-rending narrative of a family which stood on the rooftop of their car after getting trapped in the Khari river near the industrial town of Falna in Pali district last Saturday.

Among those who watched the family going down after eight hours of wailing and crying for help was the State Minister for Mines and Forests, Laxminarain Dave, an MLA from Sojat in the district. In full view of the video cameras focusing from the banks and the Minister and the rest of the civic administration watching, the family members went down one by one -- the teenage son, then the father, and then the rest of the family.

There was some effort to solicit help. Air Force authorities were reportedly contacted but the choppers could not take off due to bad weather. An Army team from Jodhpur reportedly got delayed due to roadblocks. Two soldiers, who were passing by, tried to help by jumping into the water but one soon met a watery grave while the other was rescued the next day.

The Minister's failure to act or extend any tangible help invoked public fury and criticism from rival politicians. Mr. Dave expressed helplessness. However, what came as a shock to all sensitive persons was Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's curt reaction.

Talking to television channels here in the Capital the other day, Ms. Raje quipped: "What could the Minister have done? Jumped into the water?"

"The Chief Minister's statement has been very insensitive and irresponsible. It is unfortunate that anyone speaks so callously. She is after all a human being besides being the Chief Minister," said Bina Kak, Tourism Minister in the erstwhile Congress Government in the State.

Ms. Kak, who represents Sumperpur Assembly segment adjoining Falna, is back after a visit to the area.

"It was a shame that the Falna victims could not be rescued. Jodhpur air base is only 15 minutes away. The lack of will on the part of the political leadership along with total failure of the Government machinery led to the tragic deaths," Ms. Kak said.

Recollecting a similar situation in Pali district during the time of the previous Government, Ms. Kak said, "When Ashok Gehlot was the Chief Minister, two persons were rescued from the flooded river by the then Collector Mahendra Surana himself. There is a huge difference between the commitment of the bureaucracy then and now."

The Pradesh Congress Committee in a statement has deplored Ms. Raje's comments on the Falna incident terming it as a lack of concern for human life. "Instead of being ashamed of what happened, Ms. Raje is trying to defend the Minister who is guilty of not trying to help the people in distress," said a statement from PCC general secretaries Hari Singh, Mumtaz Masih, Ashq Ali Tak, Raghuveer Meena and treasurer K.C. Choudhary.

Both the Chief Minister and Relief Minister K.L. Meena had helicopters with them at the time of the incident, they noted.

The Rajasthan State Forward Bloc in a statement has appealed to the Governor to institute a judicial enquiry into the Falna incident and dismiss Mr. Dave from the Cabinet. Forward Bloc State general secretary Heera Chand Jain said Mr. Dave could have solicited Army help for the rescue operation. He demanded resignation of the Chief Minister on moral grounds.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Raje draws flak for flood handling
Flood toll 85
Bird hits Rajasthan Governor's plane
Water level at Indira Sagar reservoir being maintained

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu