Texas closer to PM Modi’s heart than Mandi: Congress

On Monday, Congress took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to offer condolences to Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, where floods have wreaked havoc, while he instead expressed sympathy to the US government over floods in Texas.

"The PM of India has not spoken a word of consolation to those suffering in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, where over 70 people are feared dead in the calamitous floods. Meanwhile, he is deeply saddened by the destruction caused by floods in Texas, USA," Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera said in a post on X.

He added that from the PM’s post, it appears that Texas is closer to him than Mandi. "Too sad for Modi bhakts in Mandi — Texas may be far from Delhi but is closer to the PM’s heart than anyone in Mandi is," said Khera.

PM Modi, in his post had said, "Deeply saddened to learn about loss of lives, especially children in the devastating floods in Texas. Our condolences to the US government and the bereaved families."

On Sunday, flash floods triggered by two cloudbursts struck several areas of Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba and Mandi districts, even as the death toll since the onset of monsoon on June 20 reached 78. Cloudbursts and flash floods have caused a 22 deaths — 14 from Mandi alone, according to Himachal Pradesh's Emergency Operation Centre.