Dharamshala, (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukh conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected regions of Fatehpur and Indora assembly segments in Kangra district on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister took stock of evacuation operations of the regions flooded downstream of Pong Reservoir and other relief works.
While interacting with the people in relief camps set up at Damtal and Shekhpura the Chief Minister enquired of their well-being, besides assuring them of all possible assistance from the government.
Expressing concern over the loss, the Chief Minister said that damages to a huge extent have been caused to both public and private property. People have lost their homes and large areas under harvest have been submerged under water, causing huge loss to the farmers.” I assure you of a special package, especially for these areas in terms of relief and compensation. Affected families will be provided increased compensation” remarked Sukhu.
He directed the administration to make sure that the people sheltered in relief camps may be looked after well. Apart from free lodging and boarding, the health department has also deputed medical teams to take care of children, elders besides others.
The Chief Minister directed to ensure sufficient stock of edibles, essential medicines besides anti-venom doses.
Interacting with the media, Chief Minister said that as many as 27 Panchayats of Indora and Fatehpur area have been affected due to water logging downstream of the Pong Reservoir out of which 22 Panchayats have been severely affected due to flood.
Nearly 1150 persons have been evacuated so far with the help of the Indian Air Force, Army, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force. Police and Home Guards personnel have also been roped in for the evacuation process, he added.
He said that this was the most catastrophic natural calamity the state has gone through over the past 50 years. He said that financial assistance of rupees one lakh would be provided for partially damaged houses and all possible help will also be extended for rebuilding them.
He also directed the authorities to arrange for extra classes for the students who have missed their regular classes in the schools. The Chief Minister also assured the evacuated migrant labourers of every possible assistance, besides arrangements for their transportation if they were willing to go back to their states.
He also took his meal with the people sheltered at Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan Shekhpura.
Taking a dig at the opposition on the issue of the Assembly monsoon session, Sukhu said at the time of the disaster, the priority of the government was to mitigate the people’s plight and restore normalcy. If the Assembly session is convened at this juncture, the security personnel who have been roped in for the rescue and relief operations would have to be deployed for the Assemby-related duties, thus hampering the relief process, he added.
