Deputy CM assesses losses in Dharampur, immediate relief disbursed

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday visited flood-hit Dharampur in Mandi district to assess extensive damage caused by heavy rain and flashfloods in the the Son Khad. He chaired a meeting with local administration and departmental officials to evaluate the relief and restoration measures underway.

He inspected damage cause to the bus stand and the local market. He interacted with the affected residents and assured them of all possible assistance from the state government.

In immediate relief, Rs 10,000 each was disbursed to 152 shopkeepers affected in the Dharampur market, as per the instructions of the government.

According to preliminary estimates, the disaster caused about Rs 10 crore losses to both public and private property. The HRTC alone suffered around Rs 6 crore losses, as its 20 buses were badly damaged (18 fof of the Dharampur depot and one each of the Sarkaghat and Bilaspur depots). The Dharampur bus stand itself sustained heavy damage though no harm was reported to the HRTC staff.

Several water schemes of the Jal Shakti Department were affected. The Block Development Office saw significant damage to computers, records and furniture. Roads, electricity infrastructure and private properties all took a severe hit.

Agnihotri directed Public Works Department officials to reopen all roads within a week and asked the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board to restore electricity supply at the earliest. He also instructed the HRTC to resume transport services using unaffected buses.

Earlier, As a precaution, all educational institutions in Dharampur and Sarkaghat subdivisions will remain closed tomorrow.