Landslides, rains bring misery to Arki; MLA vows to expedite relief

Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi today reviewed the widespread destruction caused by heavy rains and landslides in fifteen gram panchayats of his constituency, falling under the Nalagarh sub-division. Chairing a disaster management meeting at Diggal, he directed officials to accelerate relief and restoration work.

Awasthi said that roads, power transformers, sub-stations, water supply schemes, crops, and agricultural land had been badly hit, severely affecting the lives of people. Expressing deep sorrow over the devastation, he assured residents that the state government was committed to extending timely assistance. He added that immediate rescue operations had saved many valuable assets of the state, and the current priority was to restore essential services so that people did not face unnecessary hardships.

The MLA asked officials to work in close coordination with representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and local communities while carrying out relief measures. He particularly stressed the need to restore power and water supply in the affected areas at the earliest.

The scale of the damage has been significant. Twenty-two connecting roads of seven gram panchayats near Diggal were cut off after the torrential rains, though nineteen have already been reopened for traffic. The remaining roads leading to Chamdar, Jhandhu, and Nisal will also be restored shortly. The disaster left five pucca houses completely damaged and twenty-two partially damaged, while twenty-five cowsheds and six kutcha houses were reduced to rubble. Another six kutcha houses sustained partial damage. In addition, about one hundred bighas of arable land were washed away.

The MLA directed the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments to submit a detailed report on the loss of crops and livestock within four days. Meanwhile, as part of immediate relief, the administration has already distributed Rs 1.40 lakh in cash along with fifty-five tarpaulins to affected families. During his visit to Katal village in Chamdar panchayat, Awasthi personally inspected damaged properties and provided Rs 5,000 in cash, ration, and first-aid kits to families of Kesar Chand, Daulat Ram, and Gopal Chand.

Reiterating his commitment to the people of the constituency, Awasthi said the administration must expedite relief operations and assured that maximum possible aid would be extended to every affected household.