Kaul Singh urges immediate aid for rain-hit Mandi

In the wake of unprecedented rainfall and large-scale destruction across Himachal Pradesh, senior Congress leader and former minister Kaul Singh Thakur has written an urgent letter to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, seeking immediate financial aid and swift rehabilitation measures for Mandi district, particularly the Darang Assembly constituency.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Kaul Singh revealed that 51 people have died in Mandi district alone due to heavy rains and landslides. “This is a grave humanitarian crisis,” he wrote, urging the government to act without delay.

According to his letter, the estimated damage in Mandi — including roads, drinking water schemes, power infrastructure and public and private property — has crossed Rs 1,200 crore. Darang constituency, he noted, has been among the worst-hit, with bridges and roads washed away, several water schemes collapsing and many homes either swept off or rendered uninhabitable due to deep cracks.

Citing official data, he highlighted that PWD divisions at Padhar and Thalaut, which oversee the Panarsa and Pandoh regions, have alone reported road and bridge damages worth Rs 53 crore. He also flagged administrative neglect, pointing out that three block development offices in Mandi have been declared backward, yet funds under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) remain undisbursed.

Kaul Singh urged the CM to release special funds for restoring water supply schemes, roads and bridges in Darang and to direct departments to issue tenders immediately so that reconstruction can begin on a war footing. He concluded by underlining the urgency of government intervention to restore normalcy and support thousands reeling under the calamity.