Himachal government declares heavy rains as state calamity

Himachal rain fury: The Himachal Pradesh government has officially declared the devastating aftermath of heavy rains a state calamity. In response to the considerable loss of human life and property due to the downpours, a notification released on Friday designates the entire hill state as a "natural calamity affected area."

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed PTI that the Himachal Pradesh government had taken the decision to label the extensive damage caused by heavy rains as a state calamity. Additionally, the state is awaiting a response from the Central government regarding the declaration of the disaster in Himachal Pradesh as a national calamity, Sukhu added.

Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma, speaking to PTI, outlined plans for a comprehensive evaluation of the losses once weather conditions improve and accessibility is restored. A detailed report on the incurred losses would then be submitted to the Central government to facilitate recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Meanwhile, the death toll in rain-battered Himachal Pradesh rose to 77, with the recovery of three more bodies from the debris of a Shiv temple in Summer Hill. Among these deaths, 23 occurred in three major landslides in Shimla alone—specifically at the Shiva temple in Summer Hill, as well as in Fagli and Krishnanagar, as stated by Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi. The temple wreckage might still contain about four individuals, feared to be buried beneath the rubble.

Since Sunday, heavy rains have inundated the hill state, inducing landslides in multiple districts, including Shimla. The chief minister highlighted the ongoing rescue operations and the state government's efforts to aid affected families, especially those who have suffered house damage in the flash floods and landslides, utilizing its own resources.

Sukhu emphasized the necessity for timely assistance from the Centre. He mentioned that Himachal Pradesh has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 10,000 crore.

With the onset of monsoon on June 24, the hill state witnessed 220 fatalities in rain-related incidents. Further, 11,637 houses were either partially or completely damaged, according to the state's emergency operation centre. Presently, over 600 roads remain closed, with the Public Works department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh projecting the reopening of 550 roads within the next three days. Alongside this, 408 transformers and 149 water supply schemes have suffered disruptions.

In recent days, 2,074 individuals have been evacuated from the flooded zones of Kangra district. Sukhu previously estimated that the state would require a year to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by this monsoon's heavy rains.

To facilitate recovery efforts, the state government has eased conditions for spending the MLA local area development fund. This fund, amounting to Rs 2.10 crore per year, can now be utilized by MLAs for projects such as the construction of retaining walls and the channelization of drains.