From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 3: The State Government is seriously considering preparation of a comprehensive disaster management plans in important places of tourist important and pilgrim centres which attract huge crowds, Karnataka’s Information and Infrastructure Minister Santosh Lad indicated on Wednesday.

Participating in a meet the press organized jointly by the Press Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Reporters Guild, he said the State Government must have comprehensive disaster management plans in place in the event of any natural or other types of calamities.

The minister, who headed the team that handled the rescue operations of the pilgrims from Karnataka in the recent flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, felt all the States must compulsorily follow the practice of having detailed disaster management plans in order to safeguard the tourists and pilgrims.

Lad said he was particularly determined to take personal interest and safeguard the pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand after a remark by a mother of a victim that ''all politicians are frauds and they never deliver.”

''The mother, whose name I don’t remember, had been calling me in Uttarakhand to rescue her stranded son,” he said disclosing that when the son was not traceable, she made the statement probably out of frustration.

''She urged me to at least to bring the body,” Lad said.

Finally, the lady’s son was traced and rescued, he said.

Lad was speaking about his 13-day experience at the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, said: ''I was more a volunteer than a politician or a minister and coordinated the rescue operations. Only after reaching Uttarakhand and spending about a couple of days, we understood the gravity of the situation.”

He explained that the rescue operations that were carried out in Uttarakhand were perhaps the biggest in the world.

Answering questions, he said the casualty due to the floods was likely to be around 15,000, though it might take a long time to arrive at the actual figure.

At least 150 ft of silt must have filled the Kedarnath valley after the floods, he said warmly appreciating the efforts of the various security personnel and other volunteers who were engaged in the rescue operations.

Landslide was but natural in the region as there were hardly any plateaus and all constructions, be they roads or buildings, were made cutting the mountains. The mountains were relatively newer formations and were prone to sliding, he said refusing to blame anybody for the magnitude of the human tragedy.