CM to seek special financial package from Centre for couldburst-hit areas

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said he would soon visit Delhi to seek a special relief package for undertaking restoration works in the cloudburst and flashflood affected areas of the state from the Centre.

Sukhu held a meeting with the officials last evening, along with Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur at Thunag, to review the damage and progress of relief and rescue operations in the Seraj region hit by torrential rains. He asked the Public Works Department (PWD) to restore connectivity through construction of bailey and suspension bridges for which the government would provide required funds.

The CM directed the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, to identify safe locations for temporary resettlement of affected families, where prefabricated structures can be installed to provide immediate shelter to people whose homes have been ravaged by cloudbursts and flash floods.

Sukhu and Jai Ram Thakur also discussed the issue of resettlement of families who have lost their land in the devastation. Thakur highlighted that cloudburst incidents have caused extensive destruction and with winter approaching, there is an urgent need to prioritise the rehabilitation of those who have lost everything.

The CM further directed officers to coordinate closely with Jai Ram Thakur and prioritise key schemes to accelerate relief efforts through inter-departmental collaboration. Despite the scale of devastation, he noted that 60 per cent of drinking water schemes have already been temporarily restored.

Sukhu instructed the concerned departments to immediately prepare detailed project reports for the damaged roads, bridges, electricity and water schemes. He specifically mentioned that the 56-km Chail Chowk-Janjheli road would be proposed under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for strengthening. He asked to prepare its DPR within a week.

The Chief Minister directed departments to expedite the restoration of roads and the resumption of disrupted water and electricity supply schemes to ensure quick relief to the affected people.  He also instructed officials to assess the damages suffered by the horticulturists.

Himachal Tribune