Disaster-hit families seek relief, meet DC

Families affected by recent calamities in Agriwala and Nalaka villages of Nahan Assembly constituency met the Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner on Friday under the leadership of BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal.

Dr Bindal said the meeting with the Deputy Commissioner was aimed at presenting the scale of devastation caused by the heavy rains and landslides that struck these villages in recent days. He added that a strong demand has been made for granting government relief of Rs 7 lakh each to the disaster-affected families, along with other assistance as per norms.

The BJP chief further urged the administration to allot government land to families who lost their holdings in the calamity, particularly poor households who now face displacement.

Dr Bindal explained that torrential rains had caused large-scale destruction in Matar panchayat. Eight houses were completely destroyed—seven in Agriwala and one in Nalaka—while 13 more homes in the scheduled settlement of Agriwala are on the verge of collapse. Landslides have also led to subsidence of farmlands, aggravating the crisis for farmers.

As a result, 36 people have been forced to abandon their homes and are currently taking shelter at the Government Senior Secondary School, Haripur Khol. Three families have reportedly lost nearly all their agricultural land.

The delegation included disaster-hit families along with BJP office-bearers, who collectively pressed for timely relief, rehabilitation and rehabilitation measures for the affected villagers.