No specific area, relief package will be for all disaster-affected places in Himachal: Sukhu

The Assembly on Friday expressed serious concern over the alarming rise in cancer cases across the state.

Shimla | August 23, 2025 10:08 AM IST

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. (Express Photo)

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Friday said the Natural Disaster Relief Package (NDRF) will be implemented throughout the state where ever disasters caused destruction and not in any specific area. Sukhu announced this while concluding the debate on Natural Disaster under Rule 62 wherein the opposition has also urged to declare Seraj Assembly constituency as a Natural Disaster Affected Area.

He said, “We want to bring all areas, which received losses due to the natural disasters under the relief package.”

Presenting statistics pertaining to the recent disasters, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said, “Mandi recorded 94 per cent excess rainfall this monsoon, while Shimla saw 69 per cent above normal in July 2025 alone. This isn’t merely climate change—it’s anthropogenic destruction, intensified over 13 years due to 14 specific contributing factors. We have increased compensation for disaster-related fatalities to rs 7 lakh—higher than NDRF norms—but the scale of destruction demands national acknowledgment,” he said. Sharing his own experiences from past rescue operations, Negi said, “In 2023, I walked behind JCBs through the night to rescue stranded tourists in Lahaul-Spiti. In Seraj today, our operations are being obstructed by local elements, which further justifies invoking the Disaster Act’s provisions.”

Meanwhile, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said, “The house discussed the matter brought under Rule 67 for at least 12 hours and 10 minutes in total five settings. At least 40 members of the House participated in the discussion. Suggestions were noted down.”

State second to NE in cancer prevalence

The Assembly on Friday expressed serious concern over the alarming rise in cancer cases across the state. Responding to a question raised by Congress’ Gagret MLA Rakesh Kalia, Sukhu said the state currently has the second-highest number of cancer cases in the country, after the northeastern states.

Sukhu pointed to environmental and agricultural factors behind the spike. “Excessive use of urea and sub-standard pesticides is among the primary reasons for the rise in cancer cases. The government has consulted leading cancer specialists and is planning to establish a state-of-the-art cancer institute in Hamirpur at Rs 300 crore. We will take steps to regulate and monitor the sale of such harmful chemicals,” he said.

Meanwhile, health minister (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil shared data which showed that cancer cases in the state saw a decline. While the state saw 2,428 cancer cases in 2022, it was 2,362 in 2023, and 1,836 in 2024. Shimla recorded the highest number of cases in 2024 with 493, followed by Mandi (425), Kullu (210), Solan (128), Chamba (124), Sirmaur (116), Hamirpur (101), Kangra (90), Bilaspur (72), Kinnaur (38), Una (26), and Lahaul & Spiti (13).

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Congress MLA from Theog Kuldeep Singh Rathore said, “We must promote organic farming, as successfully implemented in Sikkim,” he added.

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