HIMALAYAN TRIUMPH

Within months of becoming chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, a mountain state vulnerable to natural disasters, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu proved his mettle by spearheading the evacuation of 75,000 tourists during floods in Kullu this year

- Neeraj Thakur

SUKHVINDER S SUKHU

In a state that venerates strong leadership, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu faced a formidable challenge at the beginning of his tenure as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Months after he assumed office, a natural disaster wreaked havoc in the Himalayan region in July this year.

“I was in my constituency when news of the floods in the Kullu region reached me. Around 75,000 tourists were stranded in various parts of the area,” recalls Sukhu. Raised by a father who worked as a bus driver in the state roadways, Sukhu understood the economic significance of tourists and the need for a secure evacuation process to maintain their trust in the state’s administration.

With only 15,000 government vehicles available for evacuating 75,000 tourists and dealing with damaged roads, the situation was dire. The region lacked electricity, water and food due to the floods, requiring assistance from locals during evacuations to the Mandi district. Sukhu led a team of 1,000 members, including key ministers, working tirelessly for 48 hours to manage the crisis.

Leadership Challenge