CM: 69 killed, 37 missing in 2 weeks of Himachal rains

Amid widespread destruction caused by incessant rains and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday announced a series of relief measures, including ₹5,000 per month as rental assistance for families displaced by the natural calamity.

- Agencies

Addressing the media in Shimla after a high-level review meeting with the deputy speaker and other ministers, the Himachal CM stated that the state is facing “disaster like a war”.

“We reviewed the entire situation in the state caused by the current natural disaster. After evaluating the situation, we have decided that families who are staying in relief shelters and find rental accommodation in their villages will be given ₹5,000 per month by the Himachal Pradesh government,” said Sukhu.

He added that the government would also ensure food and ration supply to all such affected families. Sharing the toll from the disaster so far, Sukhu said that in a very short frame there has been huge losses.

“Till now, approximately 69 (43 deaths due to rain fury and 26 due to road accident since June 20) people have lost their lives, 37 are missing, and 110 have been injured. The total damage has been estimated at around ₹700 crore”, CM Sukhu told reporters.