Shimla: The intense monsoon in the ongoing season, so far, has claimed the lives of 278 people and completely destroyed 825 houses with the state authorities pegging the loss to public and private property at Rs 1981.86 crore.
In a media communique, chief secretary RD Dhiman after participating in a video conference with a high level inter-ministerial team from Delhi stated “an interim memorandum of loss of Rs 1981.86 crore was submitted to the central team. This includes the loss of Rs 957.09 crore to the Public Works Department and Rs 725.07 crore to the Jal Shakti Department. Apart from this, there has also been heavy damage to other departments and private property.”
“A total of 278 people have lost their lives in various incidents of flash floods, cloud bursts, landslides and house collapses. Another 522 people have been injured and 9 people are still missing. A total of 169 houses have been completely damaged and another 825 houses have suffered partial damage. 72 shops and 887 cow sheds have been damaged and 587 livestocks have perished,” said Dhiman.
“It is for the first time a high level Inter-ministerial team of the Centre has visited Himachal Pradesh in the mid monsoon season itself , on the special request of the state government, which helped in assessing the actual situation, said the chief secretary.
The central Inter-ministerial team was on a three day visit of the state (from 28th to 30th August) to take stock of the damage till date of this monsoon season. The central team was led by Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management) of the Ministry of Home Affairs. State officer of concerned departments were connected through video conferencing from Dharmshala and Bilaspur.
Chief Secretary said that this was only an interim report and these figures were likely to be increase in the coming days as 20-25 days of the ongoing monsoon season still remained and damage assessment was still being done at many places. He added that the final damage report would be submitted by the end of the season and suggestions of the central team would also be included in this report.
Joint Secretary (Disaster Management), Sunil Kumar Baranwal said that two different groups of the central team took stock of the situation by undertaking extensive tour of the disaster affected areas of Kangra, Chamba, Mandi and Kullu districts. The team visited relief camps also.
There has been a heavy loss in these areas of the state, said Sunil Kumar Baranwal. He also appreciated the steps taken by the local administration and the State government for rescue and relief works.
#IndianArmy alongwith @NDRFHQ & #HimanchalPolice saved lives of 11 civilians who were stranded on an island formed in the middle of fast flowing Ghumarnu stream of #Kangra, #Himachal. @adgpi @DefenceMinIndia @ani_digital@DDNewsHimachal pic.twitter.com/aUJKIhws0O
— NORTHERN COMMAND – INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) August 19, 2022
