State lost 417 lives, suffered Rs 4,582-crore losses in rain disaster

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said, “Himachal has lost 417 lives and suffered losses of over Rs 4,582 crore due to unprecedented heavy rain, cloudbursts and landslides during the ongoing monsoon season. He chaired a high-level meeting here to assess the damage caused by torrential rain over the past 48 hours in the state. He said that 417 persons had died during this monsoon season while 45 persons were still missing.

Sukhu expressed concern over the loss of lives and properties and directed the officers concerned to take prompt action to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected people. He said that during the past two days, five persons had died (three in Nihari and two near Pandoh Mohal Suma in Sadar subdivision of Mandi district) while two persons were missing.

He said that so far, the state had witnessed 136 per cent excess rainfall this month and 45 per cent excess rain during the entire monsoon season. As many as 15,022 structural damage, including 1,502 fully damaged houses, 6,467 partially damaged houses, 6,316 damaged cowsheds and 594 damaged shops, had been reported during the rainy season.

Sukhu directed all Deputy Commissioners to stay vigilant and visit the affected areas on priority to oversee the relief and rescue operations. He asked the Public Works Department officials to restore road connectivity at the earliest, particularly in the apple growing areas of the state, to ensure that the produce of fruit growers reach markets in time and they did not have to face financial losses.

The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to restore electricity and water supply schemes and other essential supplies in the affected areas on priority. He also asked the HPMC to deploy additional vehicles for the transportation of apple from its collection centres.

Sukhu said that under the special relief package, the state government was providing Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 as monthly rent in urban and rural areas, respectively, to those who had been rendered homeless during the disaster. He added that people still residing in unsafe buildings should be relocated to secure places.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Deputy Chief Whip of the Congress Kewal Singh Pathania, MLA Hardeep Bawa, Chief Minister’s Principal Adviser (IT and Innovation) Gokul Butail and other senior officers were present while Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and senior officers of various districts joined the meeting virtually.