The State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has voiced deep concern over the heavy loss of life and property caused by incessant rains in Himachal Pradesh and urged the Centre to declare the calamity a national disaster.
The party conveyed condolences to the families of those killed and assured full support to the people affected during this crisis.
“As per official data, 261 people have died and 38 are missing so far. The estimated damage stands at Rs. 2,144 crore. Around 2,385 houses have been damaged, of which 566 have completely collapsed. In addition, 360 shops and 2,174 cattle sheds have been destroyed, while 1,626 animals and more than 25,000 poultry birds have perished this monsoon season,” said CPI(M) state secretary Sanjay Chauhan.
“Basic services such as drinking water supply, power and road connectivity remain severely disrupted across the state. Districts including Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, Kangra, Sirmaur, Una, and Chamba have suffered the most,” he added.
The party highlighted that national highways and other key roads are blocked, cutting off several regions and leaving farmers unable to transport apples and other crops to markets, pushing them towards major financial losses.
It also complained that relief work is not reaching many villages on time, with ration supplies and emergency medical services still disrupted in several areas. Shortage of staff across government departments, it said, has further slowed down operations.
The CPI(M) demanded that the Centre should immediately release at least Rs 3,000 crore as disaster relief and formulate a concrete policy, backed by scientific research, to address such calamities in the future.
The party also called upon the state government to convene an all-party meeting and constitute a task force under the chief secretary for better coordination of relief and rehabilitation measures.
Among its other demands were immediate relief payments to the bereaved families, food and shelter for displaced people, deployment of NDRF and SDRF teams to trace missing persons, and timely compensation for damaged houses, cattle sheds, orchards and farmlands. It also pressed for urgent arrangements to ensure smooth supply of ration, medicines and transportation of apples from affected regions.
The CPI(M) said its district and local committees have been directed to actively assist in relief efforts on the ground.
It appealed to the people of Himachal Pradesh to stay united in this hour of crisis and assured that the party would extend all possible help to those in need.