Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced assistance of Rs 5 crore for the state of Himachal Pradesh ravaged by the rains since the onset of monsoon on June 24 this year.
The state has recently been ravaged by incessant rains causing massive loss of life and property. The assistance will be given from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Writing a letter to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister has expressed concern over the distress of the people and loss of property following incessant rains and massive floods.
‘My government and the people of Odisha stand firmly by the people of Himachal at this hour of crisis’, said the CM in the letter.
The money will be utilised for repair and restoration in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Assistance from CMRF for Relief & Restoration
According to reports, Revenue Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jagat Singh Negi on Friday (September 1) stated that 400 people have died and over 400 have been injured in the rain-related disaster.
Negi further stated that so far over 2,500 houses have been completely damaged and over 11,000 houses have been partially damaged.
The hill state recorded 247.6 mm rains in August, against a normal of 256.8 mm — a deficit of four per cent — the MeT said on Saturday.
This year, the hill state received isolated to widespread precipitation in August with extremely heavy rains on August 14 and 23. Five Western disturbances approached Himachal Pradesh during this month.
According to the state emergency operation centre, the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 8,656 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 24 till August 31 and the loss estimates are still pouring in. However, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has maintained that the state suffered losses of Rs 12,000 crore.
