Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday conducted the aerial survey of Bharmour, Manimahesh and other disaster-affected areas of Chamba district, besides Fatehpur and Mand area of Indora in Kangra district following excess water release from Pong Dam.
He took off from Pathankot Air Force Station towards Bharmour but due to adverse weather conditions, his helicopter could not land there.
Later, while interacting with mediapersons at Chamba, the Chief Minister stated that due to pre-emptive measures of the present state government, loss of human lives was comparatively less than the devastation that occurred in the year 2023. But the scale of destruction was much higher. The roads, electricity and water supply, and communication services were badly hit as compared to 2023. This year, the entire state has been hit by the destruction attributed to incessant rains, landslides and cloudbursts.
He said, "The rehabilitation is a challenge before the State Government, but with the support of the people of the State, we will overcome it courageously. It is our responsibility to rehabilitate the families who have been rendered homeless, lost all means of livelihood, and we will offer a special relief package to support them."
Sukhu said Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh were reviewing the situation on the ground. He said the government was committed to providing relief to the disaster-affected people and to evacuating those who were stranded midway due to the roads wiped out in floods en route to Chamba and Bharmour at various places. He said, "Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has proceeded for Bharmour on foot from Chamba. This demonstrates that the present State Government has adopted a humanitarian approach and is sensitively dealing with the crisis."
The Chief Minister said that the state government was vigorously working to restore road connectivity as poclains, JCBs and other heavy machinery had been deployed in the district. He said the district administration had been directed to restore road connectivity as soon as possible, but the weather was posing a challenge to the relief and restoration works. He said evacuation of those stranded in the Bharmour area was also dependent on favourable weather, although helicopters had been deployed for this purpose.
Criticising the BJP leaders, Sukhu said they were busy spreading rumours instead of extending support to the affected people. He said the BJP was demanding the adjournment of the Monsoon session of Vidhan Sabha, while in 2023, they were demanding to extend the Vidhan Sabha session. The decision to suspend the Manimahesh yatra has been taken keeping in view the prevailing weather conditions, while some people are doing petty politics over this issue. He said, "Himachal Pradesh is the land of deities popularly known as 'Devboomi'. We have full faith in our deities and pilgrimages like Manimahesh, but it is unfortunate that the leaders of BJP are indulging in petty politics."
The Chief Minister said that it is only the state government which was standing in solidarity with the affected people and expediting the relief and rescue operations.
He stressed on conducting a study to know the reasons behind the frequent occurrence of cloudbursts in the state. He said during his recent meeting with the Union Home Minister, he asked the Central Government to form an expert group to look into this matter. He said global warming and climate change were posing a bigger challenge causing extensive destruction, therefore, we must dig deep to tackle this problem effectively and save valuable lives.
Sukhu also held a meeting with the district administration in Chamba at NHPC Bhawan, Karian and directed them to expedite the relief and rescue operations in the disaster-affected areas. He also asked the officers to make adequate arrangements of food, water, shelter and other essential amenities for those stranded. He also asked the district administration to open damaged roads on priority, particularly NH-154A connecting Chamba to Bharmour, and temporarily restore the electricity and water supply schemes to facilitate the people.
The Chief Minister visited Kalsuin from where buses were available to drop the yatris and also interacted with them.
He said buses had been arranged for the devotees at Kalsuin near Chamba from where they could board the same for going towards Nurpur and Pathankot. He also directed to soon restore the Salooni-Khundimaral road so that the maximum number of devotees who have come from Kishtwar or Doda districts of Jammu can be facilitated to reach their homes.
He said additional HRTC and private buses had been arranged. He said on Friday almost 5,000 devotees were dropped at Nurpur or Pathankot from Kalsuin. Small vehicles are also being arranged for the devotees to drop them beyond Salooni who have come from the J&K side.
Earlier, before leaving for Bharmour, the Chief Minister, while at Pathankot Air Force Station, also enquired about the relief and rehabilitation operations being carried out in Kangra district from the Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa following excess water release from Pong Dam.
On the occasion, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, MLAs Neeraj Nayyar and Suresh Kumar, former Minister Asha Kumari and other district administrative officers were present.
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