Himachal Pradesh, a hill state in northern India, has officially declared the aftermath of heavy rains as a state calamity due to the extensive damage inflicted upon human lives and property. The death toll resulting from rain-related incidents has tragically risen to 77, according to officials.
In response to the widespread destruction caused by heavy rains, the Himachal Pradesh government has designated the entire hill state as a “natural calamity affected area.” Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conveyed that the state is also in anticipation of a response from the central government, with the hope of declaring the ongoing disaster as a national calamity.
Onkar Chand Sharma, Principal Secretary (Revenue), articulated that a comprehensive assessment of the losses incurred by the hill state will be undertaken once weather conditions normalize and accessibility improves. The resultant assessment report will be submitted to the central government to facilitate recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Tragic news has emerged as the recovery of three more bodies from the debris of a Shiv temple in Summer Hill brings the death toll to 77. Among these fatalities, 23 have been attributed to three major landslides in Shimla alone, including incidents at the Shiva temple in Summer Hill, as well as in Fagli and Krishnanagar, as confirmed by Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi.
The persistent heavy rainfall triggered numerous landslides across several districts, with Shimla witnessing a significant impact. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured that robust rescue operations are currently underway and the state government remains resolute in aiding affected families, especially those who have suffered damage to their homes due to flash floods and landslides. The state’s resources are being harnessed for this purpose.
Sukhu underscored the urgent need for timely support from the central government, estimating a staggering loss of approximately Rs 10,000 crore for Himachal Pradesh. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, the state has mourned the loss of 220 lives due to rain-related incidents. Further, 11,637 houses have borne the brunt of partial or complete damage, as highlighted by the state’s emergency operation center.
Vikramaditya Singh, Minister of Public Works department (PWD), offered insights into the ongoing recovery efforts. He shared that out of the 600 roads that were closed due to the calamity, 550 are expected to be accessible within the next three days. In addition, 408 transformers and 149 water supply schemes have been adversely affected.
In recent days, over 2,074 individuals have been safely evacuated from flood-ravaged areas in the Kangra district. Anticipating the extensive rebuilding process, Sukhu projected that it would take a year to restore the damaged infrastructure caused by this monsoon’s deluge. In response, the state government has eased conditions for the utilization of the MLA local area development fund. This will enable MLAs to allocate their annual fund of Rs 2.10 crore for critical initiatives such as the construction of retaining walls and the channelization of drains.
(Inputs from Tribune)
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Haseena Ayoob is a regular contributor of The Chenab Times.
