Himachal Pradesh Reels Under Massive Monsoon Losses
The picturesque hill state of Himachal Pradesh has faced an unprecedented scale of destruction during the recent monsoon season. Relentless downpours, cloudburst incidents, flash floods, and massive landslides crippled normal life across multiple districts. As the monsoon subsides, the true extent of the financial and structural damage is coming to light, raising hopes for substantial central relief assistance.
Central Inter-Ministerial Team Conducts Ground Assessment
To evaluate the ground reality, a central inter-ministerial team undertook a four-day extensive tour across the affected districts of Himachal Pradesh. The team inspected damaged infrastructure, collapsed bridges, and rain-ravaged roadways. Concluding their visit, a high-level review meeting was convened in Shimla with senior state government officials to analyze the sector-wise impact of the natural calamities.
Assessing the Rs 3,412.80 Crore Financial Damage
During the review session, Special Secretary-cum-Director of Revenue and Disaster Management Pushpendra Rana presented the comprehensive loss report. The total financial damage across the state has been officially pegged at Rs 3,412.80 crore. This extensive figure covers heavy damages sustained by the Public Works Department roads, Jal Shakti water supply schemes, power transmission infrastructure, and agricultural lands.
Strict Adherence to SDRF and NDRF Norms
The central team emphasized that the final memorandum must be meticulously prepared in strict compliance with the established guidelines of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary KK Pant, state officials assured timely completion of all documentation and verification processes to facilitate smooth financial processing at the central level.
