Dehradun, Dec. 5 -- The state Congress unit has sought a white paper on natural disasters that struck the state this year, senior leaders said on Thursday. State party vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana said a delegation led by state party chief Ganesh Godiyal visited Dharali earlier in the day to meet those affected by the flash flood that struck the region on August 5, killing at least two people, and leaving at least 67 missing. The aim was to highlight the government's failure to provide adequate relief, as Friday will mark four months since the incident, he added, even as rescue operations continue at the site. "We demand that the state government issue a white paper on disasters that struck the state this year, including Dharali. It's been four months. But the government doesn't have correct figures of the dead and the missing in the Dharali incident and the extent of the damage caused," he said. Meanwhile, BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said, 'The Congress should refrain from politicising the issue. The state government is taking all necessary steps following the Dharali tragedy.'" On Wednesday, state disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said, "Efforts are underway to retrieve the people buried under the debris in Dharali. All necessary measures, including mitigation and rehabilitation, are being carried out." The developments came after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Colonel (retd) Ajay Kothiyal, in a recent conference, questioned the government, stating that nothing has happened in Dharali since August 5. "After the disaster on August 5. 147 people are still buried inside. We cannot say that we are unable to retrieve them. but no work has been carried out in Dharali since August 5," he had said. Congress chief Godiyal announced the delegation to Dharali in response to the statement. "Upon returning from Dharali, a detailed report will be prepared and submitted to the governor, with the hope that he and the Centre will exert pressure on the state government to carry out rescue efforts as per the expectations of the locals, and to carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation work without delay," he had said. In September, authorities began the process to issue death certificates for those missing in order to distribute the compensation amount to their families without further delay, officials said on November 24. A scientific panel constituted by the Uttarakhand government to ascertain the possible reasons for the tragedy in its preliminary report in August stated that Dharali flash floods were not caused by a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), but intense heavy localised rainfall at high altitude. Addressing the developments, BJP leader and MLA Vinod Chamoli said, "Look, Congress is an opposition party. if anyone speaks from our side, Congress will point it out, and they will surely pick it up. If there has been any laxity in the relief work, Congress has every right to speak about it... they are fulfilling their responsibility. As for Colonel Kothiyal, he must understand where and how he should present his views."...