New Delhi (Agency): On Monday, Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the Congress party, appealed to the Central government for extra aid from the PM CARES Fund. This plea was meant for states that have been devastated by severe rainfall in various parts of northern India, including Himachal Pradesh.
His call for assistance followed a day of disaster where 19 lives were lost due to landslides and rain-related incidents. Adding to the grim scenario, Kharge also communicated his concerns to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Taking to Twitter, Kharge expressed his distress over the situation, stating in Hindi, “The death of several people in north India due to heavy rains is sad and painful. I have spoken with the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Despite adverse weather, relief efforts in the state have been accelerated, and every possible measure is being taken to evacuate those affected by the torrential downpour to safer locations.”
He acknowledged the efforts of the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force teams who are at the forefront of the rescue operations. The Congress leader assured that adequate compensation will be offered to the victims, and that all feasible aid will be extended to address the tragic loss of lives and property.
In his message, Kharge urged, “The Central government is also asked to provide additional relief funds from the PM CARES Fund to Himachal Pradesh and other states.” He extended his thoughts and sympathy to those affected in this testing time.
Kharge shared, “We have directed all Congress MLAs to assist the distressed people in their respective regions in all possible ways. We request all Congress workers to contribute to the relief efforts.”
Severe rain has left rivers, including the Yamuna in Delhi, overflowing their banks. Numerous towns and cities across the region are grappling with extensive flooding, with many roads and residential areas submerged in knee-deep water, reflecting the local civic system’s inability to cope with the unprecedented rainfall on Sunday.
In Himachal Pradesh, 765 roads, including the critical Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, have been closed due to the torrential downpour. Hundreds of individuals are trapped in various parts of the state, including Chandratal in Lahaul and Spiti, and near Sadhupul in Solan district.