Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that he would soon visit New Delhi to meet Union Ministers and seek a special relief package for Himachal Pradesh to overcome the rain-ravaged disaster and provide succour to people.
The state government is making every effort to normalise the situation after the monsoon, he added.
He held a review meeting with Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday evening at Thunag in Mandi district to assess the extensive damage caused by recent torrential rains and cloudbursts in the Seraj region.
The meeting focused on evaluating ongoing relief and rescue operations and planning coordinated efforts for rehabilitation.
The Chief Minister directed officials from various departments to expedite the restoration of essential services, including roads, water supply, and electricity, to ensure immediate relief for the affected population.
Instructing for immediate action, the Chief Minister asked departments to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water supply lines, and power systems. He specifically mentioned the 56-kilometre-long Chail Chowk–Janjheli road, which will be proposed for strengthening under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), and also directed that its DPR be finalised within a week.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the need for inter-departmental coordination and asked officers to work in close consultation with the Leader of Opposition to prioritise key infrastructure and relief schemes.
Despite the severity of the damage, he noted that 60 per cent of drinking water schemes had already been temporarily restored in the affected areas.
To re-establish road connectivity in remote areas, the Chief Minister instructed the Public Works Department to construct Bailey Suspension bridges.
He assured that the government would provide the necessary funds for the task.
Resettlement of displaced families was another key issue discussed during the meeting. Jai Ram Thakur highlighted the extensive destruction caused by cloudbursts and stressed that with winter approaching, there was an urgent need to rehabilitate families who had lost their homes and lands.
Responding to this, Chief Minister Sukhu directed the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi to identify safe and suitable locations for temporary resettlement.
He suggested the installation of prefabricated structures at these locations to provide immediate shelter for the displaced.
In addition, the Chief Minister instructed officials to conduct a thorough assessment of the losses suffered by horticulturists, particularly apple growers, so that they too could be compensated appropriately.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to standing with every affected citizen in this time of crisis and assured that no effort would be spared in bringing relief, restoration, and rehabilitation to the disaster-hit region.