Families hit by floods-ravaged Himachal Pradesh are to be paid ₹5,000 per month as house rent as they continue to live in rented accommodations for the time being, announced the state’s Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Saturday.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDM) of the area had also been directed to provide food supplies to the affected people even as search and rescue operations were on in the rain-affected areas of HP, the CM added.
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Heavy rains have lashed the state for weeks now, damaging roads, drinking water supplies and electricity infrastructure. More than 69 people have reportedly lost their lives, while at least 37 are still missing and 402 had been rescued in district Mandi.
Assessing the damages, Sukhu said the loss so far as a result of cloudburst and flashfloods amounted to at least ₹700 crore, adding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised all possible help.
A Central team would visit the affected areas soon to assess the damage caused, including the 790 water schemes rendered useless and 332 power transformers affected, the CM further added.
Addressing questions on his spat with Jai Ram Thakur, Sukhu said “it is wrong on the part of the Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, to politicise the matter and mislead people”.
“Thakur had spoken with me on Thursday and all senior officers had talked to him as well. I have tried to extend all possible help and even got ration delivered,” he added.
With around 300 roads being currently blocked in the state, Sukhu said the central agency NHAI should consider awarding road-building contracts to local contractors who were familiar with the region.
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