Negi visits disaster-hit Chamba dist

Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Friday announced that free bus services be provided immediately for Manimahesh pilgrims, stranded in Chamba, up to Pathankot. He also instructed officials to ensure free taxi services and other transport arrangements for devotees on the operational stretches of National Highway 154A between Chamba and Bharmour.

The minister emphasised that the Chamba–Bharmour highway must be restored on a war footing and directed the National Highway authorities to deploy additional machinery and equipment at vulnerable points. During an on-foot inspection from Bakani Bridge towards Bharmour, he reviewed the damage caused by heavy rains to roads and private property in areas such as Rakh and Bagga.

Negi also interacted with returning pilgrims and locals, assuring them of all possible government assistance. He informed media representatives that injured devotees were being airlifted to Chamba by helicopter.

Earlier, he inspected various affected sites along the Chakki-Chamba-Bharmour stretch of NH-154A, giving necessary instructions to officials. He also directed the Public Works Department to remove debris from private houses and schools in Udaipur village, while asking the Jal Shakti Department to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply.

The minister also convened a meeting of administrative officials at the at Banikhet, where detailed discussions were held regarding the scale of damage, stranded people, and the steps needed to accelerate relief and rehabilitation work.

Negi issued strict instructions to officials to speed up rescue, relief, and rehabilitation operations. “I would be visiting various disaster hit areas in the district, including Bharmour till August 31 to ensure that ground-level relief and rehabilitation work is accelerated and necessary measures are taken,” he said.

He said the restoration of roads to Bharmour is the topmost priority of the government so that the stranded pilgrims could be evacuated. In Bonkhri village in Dalhousie subdivision the minister extended a help to a local resident whose house was damaged in the recent disaster. He provided the house owner Rs 15,000 in immediate relief and assured further assistance as needed.

Later, the minister set out on foot to visit Bharmour, one of the worst-hit areas in the district, where the scale of destruction from floods and landslides has been enormous. Negi said his visit aimed to boost morale among the affected residents, assess on-ground challenges, and direct departments to expedite essential services, restore infrastructure, and ensure timely distribution of relief material.