Apple transport priority amid flood losses: Himachal Edu Minister

Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the government’s foremost priority was ensuring smooth transportation of apples to markets, along with providing relief to flood-affected families and restoring essential services like power and water supply.

While visiting Gram Panchayat Kuddu in the Jubbal subdivision of his constituency Jubbal-Kotkhai to assess the damage caused by recent floods and landslides, the minister said the region had incurred losses worth crores of rupees. He noted that two key national highways — NH-705 (Theog-Hatkoti road) and NH-707 (Hatkoti-Paonta Sahib road) — had sustained major damage.

Despite the challenges, Thakur said traffic on both highways was running smoothly thanks to the efforts of the Public Works Department, police and the National Highway Authority. “Under the Jubbal mandal, roads have suffered damages worth Rs 57 crore, but all connecting roads have been restored in time for the apple season,” he added.

He said 11,000 metric tons of apples have so far been purchased at 28 centres in Jubbal under the Market Intervention Scheme.