PM Modi to meet flood-hit families, relief personnel in Kangra, Gurdaspur today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday to review the flood-related situation and take assessment of the landslide-affected areas, an official statement from the PMO said today.

In the first leg of his day-long visit, the PM will undertake an aerial survey of the flood and landslide-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh. He will depart from Delhi at 11 am on Tuesday after casting his vote in the Vice-Presidential election here.

The PM will land in Punjab's Pathankot from where he will first visit Kangra at 1:30 pm and meet with state government officials there.

"The PM will also chair a high-level review meeting on the situation in Kangra. He will meet the flood-affected people and personnel of the National Disaster Relief Force, State Disaster Relief Force and Aapda Mitra teams in Kangra," said PMO sources.

Modi will thereafter conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Punjab around 3 pm. It is learnt that he will arrive at Gurdaspur around 4:15 pm, where he will hold discussions with senior officials of the state and chair a review meeting on the ground situation.

In Gurdaspur, the PM will also interact with families affected by floods and personnel engaged in relief and rescue operations.

"The Prime Minister’s direct review is aimed at closely monitoring relief and rehabilitation efforts to support the people of the two states during this difficult time," PMO officials said today.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who toured Punjab on PM's directions, is today learnt to have briefed him about the ground situation.

Chouhan has reiterated illegal mining along riverbanks as a primary cause behind earthen embankments in key areas giving way and has flagged the need for permanent solution to the issue. Chouhan has also informed the PM about large-scale damage to standing crops in the state and to vast swathes of cultivable land.