In the wake of heavy rains and cloudbursts in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the Indian Army, Coast Guards, state administration, fire station, NDRF, and SDRF have deployed teams to carry out rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh in the wake of heavy rains and cloudbursts in the state, sources said on Thursday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday approved the financial assistance of Rs 633.73 crore for Himachal Pradesh, which was severely affected due to floods, cloudbursts, and landslides during the southwest monsoon during the current year.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the state government was contemplating enforcing stringent laws to ensure the safety of its citizens from natural calamities.
Expressing grief over the massive landslides and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh, Singh said, “The Prime Minister should declare Himachal Pradesh a disaster-hit state and should start restoration work here.”
The northern state of Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing torrential monsoon rainfall, accompanying frequent cloudbursts and high-magnitude flash floods, for nearly a month now, developing cracks in over 100 houses in Rampur after Uttarakhand's Joshimath.
As heavy rainfall and cloudbursts hit Uttarakhand, a vehicle and a bridge got washed away in Nachti drain on the Lipulekh border of border tehsil Dharchula of Pithoragarh district, breaking the connection of Om Parvat Kalapani with Gunji.
Himachal Pradesh is still struggling to recover from widespread devastation caused by cloudbursts and floods since last weekend as 108 deaths were reported in the state amid the fresh warning by IMD of heavy rains till July 18.
"91 people lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh from June 24 to July 13. 34 deaths happened due to landslides, cloudbust, and flash floods," the government officials' data stated.