Centre releases ₹122 cr as immediate relief for HP

central government has released ₹122 crore to rain, snow-hit Himachal Pradesh as an initial assistance to undertake rehabilitation measures, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Friday.

The state has suffered losses of ₹1,479 crore during this monsoon season, including ₹220 crore loss due to the devastation caused by the snow, cloudburst and heavy rain during September 22-24, the CM said.

Presiding over a meeting of state officials to review the situation in Lahaul and Spiti district where a mega rescue operation is underway, Thakur said, “So far, more than 1,000 people have been rescued from Lahaul valley, out of these 147 were airlifted and others were evacuated by road.”

Five helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are serving to evacuate the stranded tourists and locals and the situation in Lahaul & Spiti is being monitored round the clock, he said.

Thakur said the road up Baralacha Pass will be cleared by Friday evening and efforts are being made to restore communication network in the district. “A team of BSNL officials has been sent to Sissu village for restoration of communication network in the area,” he said.

The chief minister said LPG gas and food items were available in adequate quantity in the district and 18,000 litre petrol along with 27,000 litre diesel was also made available.

The water supply in Manali town and Lahaul & Spiti has been restored, he informed and added that the people in LahaulSpiti will be provided solar lamps and lights till the electricity supply is fully restored.

Thakur said soon small transformers will also be airlifted from Kullu to replace the damaged transformers in Lahaul valley.