Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said the safety of people remains the government’s top priority, and those still living in unsafe buildings must be shifted to safer places.
"Safety of the people of the state remains the top priority for the state government and under the Special Relief Package, the state government is providing Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 as rent in urban and rural areas for those rendered homeless during the disaster," Sukhu said in a statement issued here.
Sukhu chaired a high-level meeting to review the damage caused by heavy rains and assess the situation across the state over the past 48 hours.
He said the government was considering easing conditions of living in relief camps to house more people. He also directed all deputy commissioners to remain alert and personally visit affected areas to supervise rescue and relief operations.
The Chief Minister pointed out that Himachal has received 136 per cent excess rainfall in September alone, while the overall monsoon season so far has seen 45 per cent additional downpour.
In the last two days, five people have died — three in Nihari and two near Pandoh Mohal Suma in Mandi district — while two others are missing, the statement said.
This monsoon season, 417 people have lost their lives in the state, 45 are still missing, and losses worth Rs 4,582 crore have been recorded due to heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides.
PWD officials have been instructed to restore road connectivity, especially in apple-growing regions, so fruit growers can take their produce to markets on time and avoid losses. The Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation has also been asked to deploy more vehicles for apple transportation from collection centres.
Sukhu further directed that electricity, water supply schemes, and other essential services in affected areas must be restored on priority.
Also Read: State lost ₹20,000-cr to rain disasters in 3 yrs: CM Sukhu
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