Central team assesses rain damage in Kullu, Mandi

An inter-ministerial central team conducted a comprehensive assessment of the widespread damage caused by cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides in Kullu district on the second day of its visit. The team visited the Bajaura bridge and inspected damage caused to the Lift Irrigation Sub Station at Haat and a water supply scheme at Dodari Aage. It later visited the Kotla-Gopalpur area and examined the damaged lift water supply scheme there. It also travelled to Bali Chowki in Mandi district, one of the most severely-affected areas, and inspected several disaster-hit sites before moving to Sharai, where it evaluated damage caused to roads, houses and subsidence in the area.

The team then visited Zero Point and Damothi-Barthidhar and examined destruction along the Dora-Palach road stretch. Later in the day, the delegation visited a school at Gushaini and inspected sinking zones in the Tirthan valley and Bandal. At Siund Dam, the team reviewed a landslide site that had disrupted the surrounding terrains. At Garshala in the Sainj region of Kullu district, the team assessed several houses that had collapsed due to continuous subsidence. It also visited a relief camp set up at the mela ground in Sainj and interacted with displaced families to gather firsthand information about the devastation.

The team members finally visited Bihali and inspected Sari, Dhara, and Kand villages that are sinking due to subsidence. They had lunch at the NHPC Guest House in Bihali and later left for Mandi district for disaster assessment.

The central team comprised of G Parthasarathy, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs; Waseem Ashraf, Director of the Central Water Board under the Ministry of Jal Shakti; Anil Kumar Kushwaha, Chief Engineer from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Nishant Thakur, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management), representing the state government; Murari Lal, Executive Director of the HRTC; and Dr Krishan Chand, a specialist in transport and connectivity.

According to Parthasarathy, the Central Government has dispatched two teams to the state to evaluate the extent of damage caused in Kullu and Chamba districts. The first team is at present conducting inspections in Chamba and Kangra while the other one is visiting Kullu and Mandi districts. They focused on the assessment of damage to critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and essential services such as electricity and water supply.

The central team also visited disaster-affected areas of Mandi district to assess extensive damage caused by heavy rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season. It inspected several sites in Bali Chowki and Mandi Sadar subdivisions that had suffered severe damage to infrastructure due to landslides.

The team inspected Zero Point in Bali Chowki, damaged DTR structure on the National Highway-305 and the main water supply scheme of Mandi town. The visit is part of the Central Government’s efforts to evaluate the extent of damage in the region and facilitate the process of disaster relief and rehabilitation.

The local authorities expressed hope that the Central Government would expedite support for reconstruction and relief efforts.