Shimla with Himachal Pradesh, 16 September (IANS) witnessed more than 46 percent from normal rainfall, it continued to bear the brunt of nature’s anger on Tuesday with landslides, flash floods and collapse of home and building.
By mid -September, against the normal rainfall of 692 mm, the state has already recorded 1,010 mm of rainfall. This is much higher than the state generally obtained throughout the monsoon, ie about 734 mm.
In Mandi district, a family had at least three deaths, while the state capital saw several landslides and cave-in close to multi-storey housing complexes.
Mandi Deputy Commissioner, Apoorv Devgan said that three bodies have been recovered, while two have been rescued in the fall of a house in Nihri village.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu reviewed the situation in flood-rammed areas as the state continued rescue and relief operations in several other disaster-hit areas.
Condoling the deaths, he said: “The government is standing in solidarity with the families of suffering in this hour of grief.” He directed the Mandi administration to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased.
In a high-level virtual meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the situation with the deputy commissioners of the affected areas and directed them to take necessary and immediate action to reduce the impact. He emphasized the need to move people living in unsafe buildings to prevent any unpleasant event and secure places to ensure their safety. He directed to restore damaged roads and water supply schemes in affected areas on priority so that people do not face any inconvenience.
He said that essential commodities should also be made available in the affected areas. He also asked the administrative officials to provide timely assistance to the people in crisis and support them.
Later, talking to the media here, Sukhu said that the Union Ministers were only visiting the affected areas to get political benefits, but they should also announce a relief package from their respective ministries. He said that BJP leaders should urge the Prime Minister to issue a special financial package for the state as soon as possible so that financial assistance can be provided to the affected families on time. He said that the state government had received only Rs 400 crore out of Rs 1,500 crore for 2023.
Additionally, Rs 1,500 crore was announced by the Prime Minister to help the families affected by this year’s torrential rains, but it is still uncertain whether the amount is part of the special relief package or plan-based assistance. He said that the state government is providing relief to families affected by its limited resources and restoring damaged roads, irrigation and water supply schemes on the basis of war to facilitate people.
He said that in 2023, there was a lot of damage due to torrential rains in this monsoon compared to disaster. He said that due to various disasters, there was a loss of about Rs 20,000 crore in the last three years.
The Chief Minister said that this year’s monsoon has caused widespread devastation across the state, causing valuable loss of life and important infrastructure for electricity, water supply, roads as well as private properties.
This is a clear indication of adverse effects of climate change, he said.
He said that Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited the disaster-affected areas of Dharampur in Mandi, where Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses had more than Rs 6 crore compensation. Flood waters submerged the bus stand in Dharampur, removing several HRTC buses and damaged shops, houses and parks.
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