Yogi Adityanath-led government declared death by drowning as a state disaster

Yogi Adityanath-led government decided to declare death by drowning in a well, lake, river, pond, puddle, canal, drain, pit, waterfall as a state disaster”

The Yogi Adityanath-led government of Uttar Pradesh has declared death due to drowning in a well, river, lake, pond, puddle, canal, drain, pit, waterfall as a state disaster. The Revenue Department has issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday.

After the declaration of a state disaster, now the government will be able to give a relief amount of four lakh rupees from the State Disaster Response Fund to the dependents of a person who dies by drowning in a river, lake, pond, puddle, canal, etc.

“It has been decided to declare death by drowning in a well, lake, river, pond, puddle, canal, drain, pit, waterfall as a state disaster,” UP CM Yogi Adityanath Office said.

The assistance amount will be available only in cases where death has occurred due to disaster or accidental drowning. Assistance will not be given for death due to drowning due to suicide or any criminal act.

The government has fixed the procedure to differentiate between death due to drowning due to disaster or accidental drowning and death by drowning (suicide) voluntarily. In such cases, Panchnama of the dead body will be done first.

In case of loss of life due to any notified calamity, relief amount is paid only after confirmation by the Deputy District Magistrate. The decision to pay the relief amount will be taken only after confirmation by the Deputy District Magistrate about drowning death on the basis of Panchnama.

The District Magistrate will take the final decision about whether the death is due to disaster or accidental drowning or due to suicide.

A large number of people die in the state due to drowning in rivers, ponds, canals etc. In view of this, the Revenue Department had sent a proposal to the government to declare the death due to drowning as a state disaster.

It is pertinent to mention here that UP government has directed the officials to sound flood alert in all the districts after June 15.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the officers to complete flood control works in all the flood-sensitive districts on schedule.

The CM Yogi Adityanath reviewed the flood control work in a high-level meeting on Wednesday, wherein the divisional commissioners, district magistrates, and superintendents of police of all the 75 districts participated through a virtual medium.