Himachal Pradesh Faces Rs 700 Crore Loss Due to Floods, 55 People Missing
The state of Himachal Pradesh has incurred an estimated loss of over Rs 700 crore following devastating floods and heavy rainfall, according to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The floods, which began on June 27, 2024, have caused significant damage to infrastructure and other assets.
Chief Minister Sukhu stated, “The state has suffered a loss of around Rs 700 crore and 55 people are missing, some bodies have also been recovered. We have started relief work on a war footing. We pray to God to have mercy on Himachal Pradesh. We are closely monitoring the relief and search operations in the affected regions.”
Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister, Vikramaditya Singh, visited the flood-hit areas and emphasized the urgency of reopening 193 closed roads and reinstating critical bridges. He urged for swift assistance from the Union government, stating, “Our priority is to expedite rescue and relief measures with the support of NDRF, SDRF, and state police.”
Director General of the Himachal Pradesh Police, Atul Verma, assured that rescue efforts will continue until the last missing person is found. “We will continue our efforts until the last missing person is accounted for,” he said.
In Lahaul and Spiti district, a portion of the Manali-Ladakh highway was washed away due to a cloudburst. Teams of the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, Home Guard, and CISF have been deployed to restore the area. Temporary bridges have been constructed to facilitate rescue operations.
Rampur SDM Nishant Tomar mentioned that four villages are still not connected by road, and a temporary bridge has been built to aid restoration work. “Food materials are being provided to the affected families. People have been told not to go near rivers and streams,” he said.
Home Guard Commandant RP Nepta informed that the rescue operation in Rampur’s Samej recommenced at 7 am, with five JCBs deployed and various teams coordinating to recover the maximum number of bodies.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and valleys.
Rs 700 Crore -: Rs 700 Crore means 700 crore rupees, which is a very large amount of money. One crore is equal to 10 million rupees.
Floods -: Floods happen when there is too much water, usually from heavy rain, and it covers the land, causing damage.
Chief Minister -: The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India, like a principal of a school but for the whole state.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu -: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is the current Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
Deputy Chief Minister -: The Deputy Chief Minister is the second-in-command in the state government, helping the Chief Minister.
Vikramaditya Singh -: Vikramaditya Singh is the current Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
NDRF -: NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force, a special team in India that helps during big emergencies like floods.
SDRF -: SDRF stands for State Disaster Response Force, which is like NDRF but works within a specific state.
Indian Army -: The Indian Army is the land-based branch of India’s military, helping protect the country and also assisting in emergencies.
Connectivity -: Connectivity means being able to connect or communicate, like roads and phone lines that help people stay in touch and get help.
