PM Modi to visit Himachal Pradesh tomorrow, conduct aerial survey of areas hit by flash floods and landslides

Speaking to The Indian Express, Hemraj Bairwa, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, said, “Certain central teams, including a Special Protection Group (SPG) team, have already reached Dharamshala in the Kangra district and conducted a security review meeting Sunday. Our preparations are in full swing. However, the final programme will be released by the PMO.”

“What we received from the PMO is the tentative plan of the prime minister. As per the schedule from the Kangra Airport, PM Modi will go to Punjab (after Himachal Pradesh),” Bairwa added.

Before PM Modi’s visit, two teams from the Centre arrived in Himachal to assess the damage in the Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba districts.

CM Sukhu of the Congress has been consistently demanding a special relief package from the Centre for Himachal Pradesh. A proposal to declare the devastation caused by floods, cloudbursts and landslides as a national calamity has been passed unopposed in the state Assembly during the recently concluded Monsoon Session and sent to the Centre.

The state government has announced its own relief package, including compensation of Rs 7 lakh for families whose homes have been completely destroyed.

As of now, the ongoing monsoon from June 20 has resulted in the loss of 366 lives in Himachal, with 41 people still missing. Infrastructure damage, affecting both government and private properties, is estimated to be around Rs 4,080 crore. The highest fatalities occurred in Mandi district, where 59 people died, followed closely by Kangra district with 50 deaths, and Chamba district with 43 deaths.

Also, approximately 29,000 domestic livestock have perished during this period, including 26,955 poultry birds and 1,991 other domestic animals.