Financial assistance of Rs one lakh to the relatives of the dead and strict action against those responsible for the tragedy is what chief minister Babu Lal Gaur announced when over 100 people were washed away in Dharaji in district Dewas of Madhya Pradesh. It was 'Bhootri Amavasya' April 7 2005, when tragedy struck after water was released from the Indira Sagar Dam.
On 'Bhootri Amavasya' thousands reach the banks of the holy Narmada River with the hope that a dip would act as a guard against evil spirits for the rest of the year. Such is the significance of the day in the Malwa region that heavy police 'bandobast' has to be made to manage the crowds. Despite this fact someone decided to release water from the Indira Sagar dam on that fateful day resulting in the tragedy in which more than 100 people lost their lives.
In 2006 Datia takes over from Dewas, 'Bhootri Amavasya' is replaced by 'Durga Navmi', Dharaji swaps places with Ratangarh and the little known Sindh river on which the Manikheda dam has been built replaces the Narmada river and a tragedy is served on a platter.
On October one this year some wise men decided to release water from the Manikhera dam in Shivpuri district as thousands were on their way to the Mandula Devi shrine of Ratangarh in Datia district. The resulting flashflood caught many unaware and an unknown number of pilgrims got washed away. So far more than 45 bodies have been fished out and according to an eyewitness estimate the number of dead could touch 100, thus making Ratangarh a mirror image of Dharaji.
This time the chief minister is Shivraj Singh Chauhan and like his predecessor he also announced a financial assistance of Rs one lakh to the relatives of the dead and strict action against those responsible.
There is a slight difference in the action taken against the guilty though. In Dharaji the district collector and the Superintendent of police were transferred while this time around the Sub Divisional Magistrate and the Sub Divisional Officer of Police have been suspended.
So what were the lessons that the state government learnt from the Dharaji tragedy? Don't touch the district collector and SP but suspend the SDM and SDOP instead.
Like Dharaji an inquiry that was to be conducted by the principal secretary home was initially ordered but as pressure mounted the state government ordered a judicial inquiry.
And it is only after the inquiry is complete that the government would know the following facts:
Did the local administration make proper security arrangements for pilgrims wanting to reach the Mandula Devi shrine?
How many people died and under what circumstances and how many went missing?
When the pilgrims were crossing the river was the water level on the rise and if yes what were the reasons behind it?
What arrangements were made by the local administration for the pilgrims to cross the river?
Why was water released from the dam around this time of the year and
What should be done to prevent such tragedies in future?
Answers to these questions were searched after the Dharaji tragedy as well but unfortunately they could not prevent Ratangarh from happening. So till the time another Dharaji or Ratangarh happens over to the inquiry and the subsequent action that would be taken.
About the AuthorHemender Sharma A chance reporter, reporting for CNN-IBN from Bhopal. Has reported for the Sun Magazine, Delhi MidDay, Hindustan Times, Asian Age and Sahara Samay in ...Read Morefirst published:October 03, 2006, 16:25 ISTlast updated:October 03, 2006, 16:25 IST
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Financial assistance of Rs one lakh to the relatives of the dead and strict action against those responsible for the tragedy is what chief minister Babu Lal Gaur announced when over 100 people were washed away in Dharaji in district Dewas of Madhya Pradesh. It was 'Bhootri Amavasya' April 7 2005, when tragedy struck after water was released from the Indira Sagar Dam.
On 'Bhootri Amavasya' thousands reach the banks of the holy Narmada River with the hope that a dip would act as a guard against evil spirits for the rest of the year. Such is the significance of the day in the Malwa region that heavy police 'bandobast' has to be made to manage the crowds. Despite this fact someone decided to release water from the Indira Sagar dam on that fateful day resulting in the tragedy in which more than 100 people lost their lives.
In 2006 Datia takes over from Dewas, 'Bhootri Amavasya' is replaced by 'Durga Navmi', Dharaji swaps places with Ratangarh and the little known Sindh river on which the Manikheda dam has been built replaces the Narmada river and a tragedy is served on a platter.
On October one this year some wise men decided to release water from the Manikhera dam in Shivpuri district as thousands were on their way to the Mandula Devi shrine of Ratangarh in Datia district. The resulting flashflood caught many unaware and an unknown number of pilgrims got washed away. So far more than 45 bodies have been fished out and according to an eyewitness estimate the number of dead could touch 100, thus making Ratangarh a mirror image of Dharaji.
This time the chief minister is Shivraj Singh Chauhan and like his predecessor he also announced a financial assistance of Rs one lakh to the relatives of the dead and strict action against those responsible.
There is a slight difference in the action taken against the guilty though. In Dharaji the district collector and the Superintendent of police were transferred while this time around the Sub Divisional Magistrate and the Sub Divisional Officer of Police have been suspended.
So what were the lessons that the state government learnt from the Dharaji tragedy? Don't touch the district collector and SP but suspend the SDM and SDOP instead.
Like Dharaji an inquiry that was to be conducted by the principal secretary home was initially ordered but as pressure mounted the state government ordered a judicial inquiry.
And it is only after the inquiry is complete that the government would know the following facts:
Did the local administration make proper security arrangements for pilgrims wanting to reach the Mandula Devi shrine?
How many people died and under what circumstances and how many went missing?
When the pilgrims were crossing the river was the water level on the rise and if yes what were the reasons behind it?
What arrangements were made by the local administration for the pilgrims to cross the river?
Why was water released from the dam around this time of the year and
What should be done to prevent such tragedies in future?
Answers to these questions were searched after the Dharaji tragedy as well but unfortunately they could not prevent Ratangarh from happening. So till the time another Dharaji or Ratangarh happens over to the inquiry and the subsequent action that would be taken.
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