Centre forms multi-sectoral team to investigate rising natural disasters in Himachal

As Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under heavy rainfall — causing widespread floods and devastation — the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on Sunday ordered the formation of a multi‑sectoral central team.

The team will investigate why natural disasters have been occurring with alarming frequency in the state over recent years. It will include experts from NDMA, CBRI Roorkee, IITM Pune, geologists and IIT-Indore.

Separately, an inter-ministerial central (IMCT) team has been deputed to assess the damage caused by floods, flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides in Himachal Pradesh during the ongoing South-West monsoon.

The IMCT team is currently visiting the disaster-struck state. It had reached Himachal Pradesh on July 18 for an on-the-spot assessment of the damages in the affected areas. It will remain there till July 21, official sources informed. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu met Shah last week, and sought a relief package for the state.

A high-level committee chaired by the Union Home Minister has already approved an outlay of Rs 2,006.40 crore to the state for recovery and reconstruction in areas affected by disasters like floods, landslides and cloudbursts for the year 2023, and has also released first instalment of Rs 451.44 crore on July 7.

Further, in order to support the affected people of the state, the Centre has already released the first instalment of the Central share of Rs 198.80 crore to Himachal Pradesh from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) on June 18, for relief measures of immediate nature.

Apart from this, logistic assistance to all states, including Himachal Pradesh, including deployment of requisite National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, Army teams and Air Force support, has also been provided.

A total of 13 teams of NDRF are deployed in the state for rescue and relief operations, sources informed.