Efforts ongoing to restore roads, normalcy: CM Sukhu

“All efforts” are being made in order to restore the roads and bring normalcy to the disaster-hit state, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday. “The state government is making earnest efforts to restore the roads and bring normalcy, until then the concerned district administrations have been directed to make adequate arrangements for the boarding and lodging of those affected at no cost,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
CM Sukhu said that the state government was providing “all possible help” to the people stuck in the wake of heavy rain and landslides causing road blockades in the districts of Kullu and Mandi. He further said that the National Highway between Mandi-Kullu had been severely impacted due to heavy landslides near Pandoh and it would take “some time” to restore it. “The district administration has set up two relief camps along the stretch of Pandoh and Aut in Mandi district offering shelter, food and other essential commodities to those stranded. On Wednesday food packets were distributed to over 800 people in these relief camps whereas an additional 150 individuals were being provided food at Bajaura relief camp in Kullu,” he said.
The CM said that various voluntary organisations and local people had come forward to distribute food and other essentials while necessary arrangements were in place at relief camps across the state. Sukhu said that the current monsoon season has wreaked havoc on the state, resulting in huge losses of life and property. Over 200 persons have lost their lives and the state is estimated to have lost more than Rs 12,000 crore. “The state government is committed to ensuring the well-being of everyone and was working tirelessly round the clock to provide every possible help to the needy in this hour of distress,” he added. The CM said that the safety of every individual was of paramount importance to us. The government has provided adequate funds for expediting the restoration of roads.