Preity Zinta donates Rs 30 lakh towards disaster relief in rain-battered Himachal Pradesh

Confirming the donation, Sarabjeet Singh Bobby of Almighty Blessings told The Indian Express that Zinta transferred the amount directly into the NGO’s account on Saturday. “So far, our NGO has undertaken relief work worth around Rs 1.45 crore in Seraj, Mandi, Banjar, and other flood-affected areas. With this contribution, we plan to extend the ambit of our relief activities to Kullu, Manali, and Chamba,” he said.

“We had no direct contact with Preity Zinta. Her brother, who is a serving Army officer, and her mother attended our langar seva (community kitchen service) at Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla last week. It was there that Preity Zinta’s brother acted as a bridge between her and our NGO, facilitating this noble contribution,” Bobby added.

The donation comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of a disastrous monsoon. Since June 20, the state has been battered by extreme weather events, including incessant rain, cloudbursts, landslides, swollen riverbanks, and flash floods, resulting in large-scale destruction, loss of life, and communication disruptions.

Official figures estimate that 430 people have lost their lives so far, while the cumulative economic loss stands at approximately Rs 4,900 crore.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday that the conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from parts of Himachal Pradesh over the next three days.