Himachal Pradesh has pegged its monsoon-related losses at around ₹ 3,400 crore, with damage to roads and bridges accounting for the largest share, as a seven-member inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) led by Union home ministry joint secretary M Ramachandrudu began an assessment tour on September 28.
The central team has visited areas in Chamba, Kangra and Kullu districts, including Banjar and Sainj, to assess the damage. The state government has sought around ₹ 3,200 crore from the Centre for the current monsoon losses. “According to the interim report, the total damage in Himachal Pradesh during this monsoon season is around ₹ 3,400 crore. The maximum share is in roads and bridges under the PWD, at around ₹ 2,500 crore. Jal Shakti has also suffered losses of around ₹ 385 crore,” Rana added. The World Bank has approved a $245-million ( ₹ 2,300 crore) resilience project for Himachal Pradesh aimed at strengthening disaster recovery and climate resilience, including resilient infrastructure and early-warning systems.
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is also scheduled to meet the central team in Shimla, he said. Rana said the team was scheduled to reach Shimla on Wednesday evening, following which the state government would brief its members about the overall losses caused by the monsoon.
