Uttarkashi Flood Survivors Reject ₹5,000 Relief Cheques, Call It ‘Too Little’
Uttarkashi has been ravaged by flash floods, leaving a trail of destruction—homes washed away, lives lost, and entire families displaced. In the midst of this devastation, the government issued ₹5,000 cheques as “immediate relief” on Friday, sparking anger among locals who called the amount grossly inadequate.
According to The Times of India, several villagers refused to accept the money, describing it as an “insult” to their suffering.
“We have lost everything—our families, homes, and businesses worth crores. This amount is an insult,” one villager said.
Residents said they had no electricity for days and only received candles four days after the disaster.
“We spent nights in darkness, using firewood to cook. The government talks about ration, but it hasn’t reached us—we had to go door-to-door searching for it,” another local complained.
The discontent turned into a protest, especially after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had earlier announced ₹5 lakh as compensation for victims.
Over 1,000 Rescued
Meanwhile, CM Dhami confirmed that more than 1,000 people—including pilgrims from across the country—have been rescued.
“All injured have been shifted to hospitals. Connectivity in Harsil was completely destroyed but has now been restored. A Bailey bridge will be installed near Lachi Gad by evening to help reconnect roads to Harsil,” he said.
He further announced that affected families would receive rations for six months and that a three-member committee led by the Revenue Secretary will assess the losses and rehabilitation needs.
Earlier in the day, CM Dhami met Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh at Raj Bhavan, Dehradun, to review relief efforts. In a post on X, he said they discussed ongoing operations in Dhrali and Harsil and the rehabilitation of affected residents.
