Sukhu orders war-footing restoration of essential services in snow-hit areas

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday issued firm directives to officials to ensure the swift restoration of essential services in areas affected by heavy snowfall, stressing the need to bring life back to normal at the earliest.

Emphasising immediate and coordinated action, the Chief Minister instructed all departments to work on a war-footing to address disruptions caused by snow and rain. He specifically directed that roads leading to hospitals, health centres and other emergency service institutions be cleared on priority to guarantee uninterrupted access to healthcare. To reduce public hardship, he ordered the deployment of adequate manpower and heavy machinery for the speedy reopening of blocked road networks.

Sukhu also called for the prompt restoration of power and water supply schemes in the affected regions and asked district administrations to remain on high alert, ensuring immediate assistance to people in distress. He directed the Department of Food and Civil Supplies and the State Civil Supplies Corporation to take proactive steps to maintain a steady and uninterrupted supply of foodgrains and other essential commodities in snowbound areas.

Stressing the importance of safety, the Chief Minister underlined that all departments must strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority.

At the same time, Sukhu noted that the rain and snowfall had brought much-needed relief to farmers and orchardists, giving a significant boost to the rural economy. He said the fresh snowfall was also expected to energise the tourism sector, much to the benefit of hoteliers and allied businesses.

Looking ahead, the Chief Minister said the state government had directed officials to undertake in-depth studies on climate change. The objective, he said, is to integrate strong environmental conservation measures into future policies and development programmes to ensure a sustainable future for Himachal Pradesh.