Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Kullu, September 5
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday visited flood-affected areas of Kullu district to assess damage, meet affected families and oversee relief operations. Arriving in an Air Force helicopter carrying food and essential supplies, the Chief Minister inspected damaged roads, bridges and private properties in Manali’s Vashisht Chowk, Bahang and Old Manali, as well as Akhara Bazaar. He directed Border Roads Organisation officials to restore connectivity at the earliest and expressed condolences to families who had lost relatives in landslides and flash floods.
Sukhu said this year’s monsoon had caused widespread destruction across the state, with fresh losses reported in several regions over the past four days. He emphasised that the state government was providing maximum possible support, including ₹7.7 lakh for families whose homes were destroyed and compensation for livestock losses.
The Chief Minister highlighted rescue operations in Chamba, where Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters were deployed to evacuate stranded pilgrims from the Manimahesh Yatra route. On Wednesday, 605 people were safely transported to their destinations in state-run buses at no cost. All examinations across the state have been postponed.
Sukhu said restoring roads, electricity and water supply was the government’s top priority, alongside ensuring farmers and orchardists could transport produce to markets. He also confirmed that the state had prepared a ₹3,000 crore project for World Bank assistance to strengthen disaster response.
Criticising the Centre, Sukhu said Himachal had not yet received any financial support from New Delhi despite the scale of destruction. He urged the Union government to allow one bigha of forest land for rebuilding homes of displaced families, noting that 68% of the state’s land falls under forest cover and requires central approval. He called on BJP leaders and MPs to press the Centre for special relief measures, instead of limiting their activity to social media.
The Chief Minister added that Congress leaders were actively engaging with affected communities, while the state government stood “firmly with the disaster-hit families in their time of distress.”
Earlier, Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of affected areas in Mandi and Kullu. He was accompanied by MLAs Sundar Singh Thakur and Bhuwaneshwar Gaur, APMC Kullu chairman Mian Ram Singh, Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Ravish and senior officials.
