World Bank offers to assess flood-induced damages

The World Bank has offered to provide full support to flood-affected Himachal Pradesh and will provide a comprehensive assessment of the damages which will aid reconstruction efforts, a statement issued here on Friday said.
The World Bank has offered to conduct an assessment in collaboration with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) to quantify losses suffered in various sectors such as roads, power, water supply, housing, public buildings, irrigation, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, ecological services, the statement said.
World Bank’s Country Director for India Auguste Tano Kouame has conveyed the bank’s appreciation towards the timely measures taken by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a letter, including for monitoring and ensuring the safe return of tourists stranded in different parts of the state, a government spokesperson said.
Expressing his gratitude for the World Bank’s support, Chief Minister Sukhu said that it would take at least a year to carry out restoration works caused by the rains. Sukhu claimed rain-related damages have been estimated to be around Rs. 8,000 crore and added that restoration of roads, bridges, power, and water supply was the priority of the state government. However, as per the state emergency response centre, exact losses since the onset of monsoon on 24 June amount to Rs 5,492 crore.