CM Sukhu Urges BJP MPs to Facilitate Forest Land Clearance for Rehabilitation of Disaster-Hit Families in Himachal.
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made a passionate appeal to BJP MPs from the state to actively help secure Union Government approval for the rehabilitation of disaster-affected families on forest land, as he toured the severely impacted Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi district on today.
During his visit to the Bagsiad relief camp, CM Sukhu inspected the arrangements made for displaced residents and interacted with the affected families. The victims, who lost their homes due to cloudbursts and torrential rains, expressed satisfaction over the camp facilities but urged the government to accelerate their permanent rehabilitation, citing uninhabitable or completely destroyed homes.
Assuring the affected people of the government’s full support, the Chief Minister said, “The state government is fully committed to your rehabilitation. We will provide land to those who have lost everything—wherever feasible. But since 68% of Himachal is forest land, we need the Centre’s permission to rehabilitate you on that land. I urge BJP MPs from Himachal to help in getting this critical clearance.”
He further emphasized, “This is not a time for politics. This is the time to stand united for the people.”
Relief Announcements and Rehabilitation Measures
The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs. 7 lakh for rebuilding fully damaged homes and assured that losses to shops, cowsheds, and livestock would also be fully compensated. He acknowledged the hardship of building a home in hilly regions like Himachal and said the government would leave no stone unturned to help affected citizens restart their lives.
While addressing the media, CM Sukhu detailed the ongoing rescue and relief efforts, reporting:
- 290 people rescued so far
- 15 fatalities and 27 still missing
- Damage to 1,184 houses, 710 cow sheds, and 201 shops
- Death of 780 livestock animals
- Deployment of 177 police personnel in the worst-affected subdivisions (Thunag, Karsog, Gohar)
- Distribution of over 3,000 ration kits and 4,000 tarpaulins
- Establishment of 17 relief camps housing 677 displaced persons
The Chief Minister visited various villages including Bagsiad, Thunag, Thunadi, Lambathach, Jarol, Pandavshila, Kuthah, and Janjheli, listening to the concerns of locals and personally monitoring the relief operations.
No Tolerance for Misinformation or Politicization
CM Sukhu warned against attempts to spread misinformation or politicize the disaster, stating, “Some individuals are playing dirty politics even in times of tragedy. But we are focused on action. Relief materials were air-dropped in Rain Galu via helicopter, and Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh have also visited these areas.”
He stressed that restoring road connectivity remains a top priority, and nearly 50 JCBs and other heavy machines have been deployed for road clearance. “Relief delivery is difficult unless roads are reopened,” he added.
Political Cooperation Acknowledged
In a show of non-partisan cooperation, CM Sukhu revealed that he has been in regular contact with Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who has also been making use of IAF helicopters arranged by the state for rescue missions. “This is not the time for blame games. It’s time to help people,” he said.
The Chief Minister lauded the Mandi district administration for its tireless efforts and urged continued coordination among all stakeholders to restore normalcy and rebuild lives.
Also present during the visit were APMC Chairman Sanjeev Guleria, Congress leaders Vijay Pal Singh, Jagdish Reddy, Jeevan Thakur, and Naresh Chauhan, along with Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, SP Sakshi Verma, and other senior officials.
The visit underlined the Himachal Government’s message of compassion, urgency, and unity in responding to natural disasters—and its strong call to the Centre for supportive action.
