Rain, snow caused Rs 1,600-crore loss: CM

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 27

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday informed a central team that the state had suffered a loss of Rs 1,600 crore this monsoon and due to untimely snowfall in the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti in September.

Thakur urged the inter-ministerial central team, which is here to access damages suffered by the state, to recommend the maximum financial support from the Union Government in view of the extent of losses.

The Chief Minister said the Public Works Department (PWD) had suffered a major loss. The damage to roads and bridges had been estimated at Rs 930 crore.

He said 405 incidents of landslides and 34 cloudbursts were reported. The Irrigation and Public Health Department had suffered a loss of Rs 430 crore while the loss to agricultural crops was estimated at Rs 130.37 crore.

As many as 343 persons lost their lives due to flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts and weather-related road accidents.

He said the state government had released an ex gratia amounting to Rs 13.72 crore for next of kin of the deceased.

The Chief Minister said it was ensured that damaged roads and infrastructure were restored at the earliest to avoid inconvenience to commuters.

He said 4,033 stranded persons were rescued from Chamba, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti between September 3 and October 1.

The Chief Minister thanked the Centre for extending all possible help to ensure relief and rehabilitation work in the state.

He said the IAF provided seven helicopters to airlift 292 stranded persons from Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Power Minister Anil Sharma, Transport and Forest Minister Govind Thakur, MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, MLAs Vinod Kumar and Rakesh Jamwal, Joint Secretary (PM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Vivek Bhardwaj, Superintendent Engineer, Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways, Vipnesh Sharma, Director, Ministry of Water Resources, OP Gupta, Mandi DC Rugved Thakur and other senior officials were present.

Trail of destruction

• The damage to roads and bridges has been estimated at Rs 930 crore.
• At least 405 incidents of landslides and 34 cloudbursts were reported.
• The Irrigation and Public Health Department suffered a loss of Rs 430 crore .
• The loss to agricultural crops estimated at  Rs 130.37 crore.
• As many as 343 deaths reported due to flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts and weather-related road accidents.