Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, attended a significant dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on Saturday. During the event, Chief Minister Sukhu had a crucial discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing various issues of paramount importance to the state.
Chief Minister Sukhu passionately conveyed the severe impact of a natural disaster that struck during the monsoon season and earnestly appealed to Prime Minister Modi to declare it a ‘National Disaster.’ He shed light on the tragic loss of over 400 lives due to the calamity, which left more than 13,000 houses damaged and countless families without shelter. The disaster has resulted in cumulative losses exceeding Rs. 12,000 crore for the state.
Expressing the urgent need for substantial assistance from the Union government, Chief Minister Sukhu implored the Prime Minister to release a special relief package to aid Himachal Pradesh in its recovery efforts. He drew parallels to the support provided during previous tragedies such as the Bhuj and Kedarnath disasters.
Prime Minister Modi attentively listened to Chief Minister Sukhu’s concerns and assured him that the demands would be considered sympathetically. The dinner was attended by an array of dignitaries, including US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Presidents and Prime Ministers from other countries.
Representatives of 19 invited countries, dignitaries from various international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Health Organization, as well as Union cabinet ministers and chief ministers of various states, graced the occasion. This significant interaction underscores the state’s urgent need for support in the face of a devastating natural disaster, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and assistance from the national government. .
