Himachal Govt releases Rs 96.5 crore for relief and rescue

Himachal Government on Monday said it has released Rs 96.50 crore for relief and rescue operation in the state following losses to human life and the property due to heavy rainfall during last 24 hours.

Presiding over a review meeting here, Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry assessed the damages caused due to rains in the state in which all the Deputy Commissioners participated through video conference. He said the state government has so far released Rs  229 crores since 1 April, 2018 and more funds would be released as per the requirement of the districts.

Chawdhry said 16 casualties have been reported so far from various districts including one each in Bilaspur and Una districts, two in Hamirpur, four in Mandi and eight in Solan district. He said and interim relief has been distributed by the district administration to the affected families.

He said adequate men and machinery had been deployed to restore the roads, water and electricity supply and funds have been released to Deputy Commissioners and concerned departments and there was no shortage of essential commodities in any part of the state.

Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and PWD Manisha Nanda said that 923 roads were closed due to landslides in the state including six national highways and the department has deployed machinery to make these roads through as soon as possible. She said adequate funds were available for rescue and relied measure and the Deputy Commissioners can hire the local machinery, if required for clearing the roads and other restoration works.

Deputy Commissioner, Kullu informed that the Manali national highway was blocked due to landslides and efforts were on to clear the road on war footing. In Kangra, traffic was affected on 85 roads and most of these would be cleared by Monday evening. Pathankot-Mandi road has been cleared for light vehicles and the people stranded in Lambagaon were being rescued.