Sukhu directs district administrations to be prepared to mitigate monsoon fury

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed all the Deputy Commissioners of the State to stay alert and ensure 24×7 availability for the public to deal with the unfolding situation efficiently, keeping in view the adverse weather conditions.

While reviewing the situation of the State with district administrations virtually from Shimla today, he asked all the Deputy Commissioners to conduct relief and rehabilitation operations for affected individuals on war-footing.

The Chief Minister also instructed them to identify the individuals or families, particularly migrant labourers, living close to the banks of the rivers, khads and nullahas and to re-locate them to safer places besides ensuring their safety. He also directed to issue advisories warning tourists and locals against venturing near rivers and nullahas during the rainy season.

He also asked them to report all kinds of losses to the government at the earliest. He said that power projects are suffering repeated losses during every monsoon season and called for formulating a comprehensive strategy to safeguard their vital infrastructure.

Over the last 24 hours, Himachal Pradesh has reported three cloudbursts, nine flash floods and three landslides resulting in five fatalities and one injury. Three individuals in Kullu district and 5-6 in Kangra district are still missing while 21 stranded persons have been evacuated. Two National Highways- 505 and NH-03 are still blocked at multiple locations due to landslides. Following a cloudburst at Majhan nullaha in Sainj valley, the downstream hydro electric projects Sainj, Parvati and Larji have been shut down and opened their gates as precautionary measures. Intensive search and rescue operations are underway with teams from SDRF, Home Guards and NDRF across the affected areas.

MLAs Mohan Lal Brakta and Ashish Butail, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Special Secretary Revenue D.C. Rana, OSD to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma were also present on the occasion.