The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has made a strong plea to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the recent devastating rains in the state a ‘national disaster.’ Sukhu met Modi during a G20 dinner event hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday and discussed various issues impacting the state.
During his meeting, Sukhu emphasized the scale of the destruction caused by the monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh. “More than 400 people have lost their lives, and over 13,000 houses have been damaged, leaving thousands of families homeless,” the Chief Minister stated, according to a government press release.
The state has also suffered extensive financial losses, with Sukhu reporting a total damage exceeding Rs 12,000 crore. “Himachal Pradesh needs big help from the Central government to rebuild and move towards recovery,” he told Modi.
The Chief Minister also asked the Prime Minister to release a special relief package for the state. In making his request, Sukhu drew parallels to the financial assistance provided during past calamities like the Bhuj and Kedarnath tragedies.
“The Prime Minister listened carefully to my concerns and promised that the demands will be looked at with sympathy,” the statement from Himachal Pradesh government claimed.
The G20 dinner was a high-profile event, with attendees including U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and other international dignitaries.
The plea from the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister comes at a crucial time when the state is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the rain-caused disaster. With large-scale loss of life and property, there is an urgent need for significant financial aid to rebuild the affected areas and support the homeless families. The appeal to the Prime Minister aims to draw national attention to the crisis and expedite relief measures.
