HP CM Sukhu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, seeking increased central assistance to help the state recover from recent flash floods and cloudbursts, which have already caused damages worth ₹1,000 crore at the onset of the monsoon.
Highlighting the scale of the devastation, CM Sukhu informed that the state had suffered widespread loss of life and damage to vital infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, irrigation and water supply schemes, and power systems.
The Chief Minister urged the Central Government for liberal financial support for relief and reconstruction efforts. He emphasized that since 2023, recurrent natural disasters had led to cumulative losses of nearly ₹21,000 crore, straining the state’s limited resources.
Despite ongoing efforts under the State and National Disaster Response Funds (SDRF/NDRF), the Chief Minister noted that current relief norms are inadequate, especially given Himachal’s challenging geography. He called for urgent policy reforms, including a 30% hike in relief limits, up from the current 10%, to better address the scale of destruction and ensure timely recovery.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured CM Sukhu of all possible support and recognized the state’s concerns regarding disaster management and relief mechanisms.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
