Himachal Pradesh rain fury: CM Sukhu announces Rs 5,000 monthly rent for affected families

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday said rescue and relief operations were in full swing in rain-affected areas and that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured of all possible help.

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Talking to media persons here today, Sukhu said he had spoken with Union Home Minister about over Rs 700 crore loss suffered in these areas. He said a Central team will visit the affected areas soon to assess the damages.

The Chief Minister said, “It is wrong on the part of Leader of Opposition to politicise a natural disaster and mislead people. He had spoken with me yesterday and all senior officers have spoken with him as well. I tried to extend all possible help and even got ration delivered.”

He said that the state government has decided to provide Rs 5,000 per month as house rent to disaster-affected families whose homes have been damaged and were living in rented accommodation. He said that the SDMs concerned have been directed to provide food supplies to the affected people.

Sukhu said heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to homes and land in the Seraj and Dharampur areas of Mandi. “A total of 14 cloudburst incidents have occurred in Mandi alone this monsoon season, which is a matter of concern. There is need to study why such incidents are happening frequently. I raised it with Amit Shah also,” he added.

He said due to the rain, roads, electricity infrastructure and drinking water supply schemes had been severely impacted. Sukhu said that nearly 300 roads were currently blocked in the state, 790 drinking water schemes damaged and 332 power transformers affected.

He added that in Mandi district alone, 402 persons had been rescued as part of relief operations. Responding to a query on NHAI projects in the state, the Chief Minister said that the NHAI should consider awarding such contracts to local contractors familiar with the region.