CM Sukhu reviews flood-hit areas in Himachal, announces relief measures and road restoration plans

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted a three-day visit to Mandi district to assess the damage caused by heavy rains and cloudbursts.
During the visit, he toured the disaster-affected areas of Seraj and Nachan Assembly Constituencies and took stock of the ground situation.

Speaking to media persons at Sundernagar on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the government acted swiftly to restore essential services in the affected areas. He said that almost all major roads in these areas have been reopened, while the restoration of link roads is progressing rapidly.

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“From the very first day of the disaster, 50 JCB machines were deployed to clear debris and reopen roads,” he said and announced that key roads leading to Chail Chowk, Bagsyad, Thunag, Janjehli, and Chhatri would be brought under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) to convert them into composite roads.

He informed that the road and bridges between Thunag and Janjehli had suffered extensive damage.

While temporary restoration has been completed, he assured that there would be no shortage of funds for long-term rebuilding.
So far, Rs 7 crore has been released by the government for relief and rescue efforts to accelerate the pace of restoration work, he added.
The Chief Minister also noted that Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh had already visited the affected areas to assess the situation.
He said that the losses in these areas were unprecedented.
The government, along with the district administration, is working day and night to provide relief material, shelter, and support to the affected families, he said, adding that apart from damage to houses and infrastructure, livestock, crops, and vegetables have also been severely impacted.
The Chief Minister said that compensation would be provided for the loss of livestock and clothes, along with all possible support from the state government’s own resources. In view of the need for relocation at some locations, he said the state would seek permission from the Central Government to provide forest land for resettling affected families at safer locations.
He urged BJP MPs from the state to support the proposal in the interest of public safety.
He added that Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani would visit the affected areas in the next two days to monitor ongoing relief operations.
To assist families staying in rented accommodations, the state government will provide Rs 5,000 per month in rural areas and Rs 10,000 in urban areas as rent support.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged that the Dharampur area of Mandi district has been badly affected, and local MLA Chandrashekhar is actively engaged in relief and rescue work.