Himachal Pradesh has been declared a disaster-hit state, with relief and rescue operations underway, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the Assembly on Monday.
In a suo motu statement, Sukhu said 10,000 out of 15,000 pilgrims stranded en route to Manimahesh in Chamba district had been rescued. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
“The losses due to cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides have been estimated at Rs 3,560 crore. Maximum damage has been caused to roads, bridges and water and power supply systems. I have conducted an aerial survey (of the disaster-hit areas),” the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has meanwhile expressed grief over five deaths in the state during the past 24 hours due to torrential rains, which include two deaths at Dubloo, Junga in Shimla Rural, one death each at Chol in Kotkhai and at village Boli, Panchayat Badhal of the Jubbal area, and one in Chauras village under Nauradhar tehsil of Renuka Ji Vidhan Sabha area of Sirmaur District.
The Chief Minister said that the state government stands in solidarity with the affected families in this hour of grief and would provide all possible assistance to them.
The 25 km stretch of Chamba-Bharmour National Highway and the Chamba-Salooni-Padri-Jot road has been reopened. Manimahesh yatris from Jammu and Srinagar were being sent via this route, Sukhu added.
Relief work is in full swing to reopen the Kullu-Mandi National Highway. Farmers’ fruits and vegetables stuck on the roads are being transported via Kullu.
Power supply has been restored in most areas, and telecommunication links have been fixed across Kullu district. Mobile networks are being restored in the tribal Lahaul-Spiti district.
IAF helicopters have airdropped ration in Keylong, and five patients, including a child and a pregnant woman, were airlifted for treatment.
The Lahaul-Rohtang-Manali route has been opened. Cooked food, dry ration, blankets, and sleeping bags are being distributed to affected people.
Also Read: 16 dead, thousands rescued as Manimahesh Yatra concludes
Follow us
