Himachal Govt Estimates Rs 900 Crore Damage From Devastating Floods, State on High Alert Till Sept

Shimla: Himachal Presh government on Friday said that flood situation in state has led to loss of Rs 900 crore  to Irrigation and Public Health (IPH), Public Works Department (PWD), and state's ro infrastructure.

As rescue and search operations is still underway, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed concern over lack of immediate assistance from Union government, though assurances of future help have been given.

In a statement reflecting emotional toll of disaster, CM Sukhu said, " rescue and search operation will continue as we have sentiments that people want to see body of ir lost ones, so we shall continue operations." He ded that 33 people are still missing. 

dressing issue of flood-prone areas, Chief Minister ted that government h issued a directive last year prohibiting construction of new houses near rivers and rivulets. Neverless, in areas such as Samej, where vill has a long-standing history of habitation, floods are primarily attributed to global warming.

"I have alrey said that both central and state governments need to do a study on disasters and floods," Sukhu ded. "Those students who have suffered due to floods will be provided accommodations for schools, or special buses will be routed for m to nearby schools so that ir education does t suffer," he said. 

Meanwhile, after catastrophic cloudburst that occurred near Samej and Bagi bridges late on July 31, several people were reported missing. On Thursday NDRF reported that 13 bodies h been recovered so far even as rescue operations in disaster-affected area are underway. Baljinder Singh, 14th Battalion Commandant, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said that NDRF teams were sent well-prepared to Himachal Presh this year to ensure delay in rescue operations.