Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Wednesday, chaired a high-level meeting in Shimla to review the extensive damage caused by torrential rains that battered Himachal Pradesh during the last 48 hours.
Expressing deep concern over the loss of lives and properties, the Chief Minister directed officers to act promptly to safeguard the affected people.
He said that five persons had died in the last two days—three in Nihari and two near Pandoh Mohal Suma of the Sadar Sub-Division in Mandi district—while two persons were still missing.
Sukhu informed that Himachal Pradesh has received 136 percent excess rainfall in September alone, while the overall monsoon season has so far recorded 45 percent additional downpour.
He said the ongoing monsoon has already claimed 417 lives, with 45 people still missing. Damages worth Rs 4,582 crore have been reported due to heavy rains, cloudbursts and landslides.
A total of 15,022 structures were affected, including 1,502 houses fully damaged, 6,467 partially damaged, 6,316 cowsheds, and 594 shops.
The Chief Minister instructed all Deputy Commissioners to remain vigilant and personally visit affected areas to supervise relief and rescue operations.
He asked the Public Works Department to restore road connectivity at the earliest, especially in apple-growing belts, so that fruit growers are able to transport their produce to markets in time and do not suffer financial losses.
He also directed the prompt reinstatement of electricity, water supply schemes, and other essential services in the affected regions.
In view of the ongoing apple season, the Chief Minister further asked the HPMC to deploy additional vehicles to ensure smooth transportation of apples from collection centres.
Reiterating that the safety of people remains the government’s top priority, Sukhu said that under the Special Relief Package, rent assistance is being provided to those who lost their homes—Rs 10,000 per month in urban areas and Rs 5,000 in rural areas.
He added that the government is considering relaxing the condition of staying in relief camps to receive this assistance, keeping in mind the state’s social fabric and the need to accommodate more families rendered homeless.
The Chief Minister also directed that people still residing in unsafe buildings must be shifted to secure locations immediately to prevent further tragedies.
Relief materials, food, and medical support should be ensured in every affected area without delay, he said.
The Chief Minister underlined that the unprecedented scale of damage this monsoon demands coordinated efforts from all departments to restore normalcy at the earliest.