Himachal Pradesh halts guards of honour to boost flood relief efforts

Amid the catastrophic aftermath of severe rains in Himachal Pradesh, the state government has instructed police personnel to forego the customary guard of honour for dignitaries for the next two months. Instead, the focus will be redirected towards relief operations, announced Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday. The suspension of the honour guard protocol will extend until September 15, with the sole exception being Independence Day. The tradition usually honours notable figures such as the governor, the chief minister, and Union ministers during their field visits
in the state. Chief Minister Sukhu urged police forces to concentrate their efforts on aiding the rain-affected populace. He underscored the importance of enhanced police deployment in rescue operations and the need to maximise the state’s resources to address the flood aftermath effectively. The state government remains resolute in its mission to provide crucial assistance to those impacted by the floods, asserted Sukhu. Unprecedented heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides have inflicted significant damage on roads and other infrastructure, with the state receiving 30% of its total seasonal monsoon rainfall in just three days. Since the onset of the monsoon on June
24, the state has suffered the loss of 118 lives and incurred damages amounting to INR 4,415 crore, as per the state emergency response centre.