SHIMLA-11^th July, 2025

CM directs to prepare DPRs for damaged projects in Seraj area

• Ask administration to identify safe land for temporary resettlement of affected families
• Reviews relief and rehabilitation work with Leader of Opposition

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held a meeting on Wednesday evening with Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur at the Thunag Rest House to review the damage and progress of relief and rescue operations in the Seraj region that had been hit badly by torrential rains and cloud bursts recently.

The Chief Minister directed departments to expedite the restoration of roads and the resumption of disrupted water and electricity supply schemes to ensure quick relief to the affected people. He said he would soon visit Delhi to meet with the Union Ministers to seek a special relief package for the State.

The Chief Minister instructed the concerned departments to immediately prepare detailed project reports for the damaged roads, bridges, electricity, and water schemes. He specifically mentioned that the 56-km Chail Chowk-Janjheli road would be proposed under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for strengthening. He asked to prepare its DPR within a week.

He also directed officers to coordinate closely with the Leader of Opposition and prioritize key schemes to accelerate relief efforts through inter-departmental collaboration. Despite the scale of devastation, he noted that 60 percent of drinking water schemes have already been temporarily restored. The Chief Minister asked the Public Works Department to restore connectivity through construction of bailey and suspension bridges for which the government would provide required funds.

Sh. Sukhu and Jai Ram Thakur also discussed the issue of resettlement of families who have lost their land in the devastation. Jai Ram Thakur highlighted that cloudburst incidents have caused extensive destruction and with winter approaching, there is an urgent need to prioritize the rehabilitation of those who have lost everything.

The Chief Minister directed the DC, Mandi to identify safe locations for temporary resettlement of affected families, where prefabricated structures can be installed to provide immediate shelter. He also instructed officials to assess the damages suffered by the horticulturists.

Former Minister Prakash Chaudhary, Congress leaders Chet Ram, Jagdish Reddy, Vijay Pal Singh, APMC Chairman Sanjeev Guleria, Jeevan Thakur, Naresh Chauhan were also present on the occasion.

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CM expresses gratitude towards people of Nadaun for sending disaster relief material

While the administration is engaged in relief work after the natural disaster in Seraj assembly constituency of Mandi district, the social organizations and common people are also coming forward to provide relief material to the people in large numbers.

In the same sequence, relief material has been sent from the Bara zone of Nadaun Assembly of Hamirpur district. The relief material was formally handed over to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in Thunag today. The relief material includes five sacks of flour, 11 sacks of rice, one quintal of sugar, 60 kg gram dal, 60 kg maize, 45 liters of oil, 50 kg potatoes, 10 buckets, 10 mugs, 90 pairs of shoes and slippers, 3700 plates and glasses, pressure cookers, children's milk bottles, bath and laundry soap.

Retired SBI manager Sudarshan Jariyal, former vice-president Rajesh Kumar, 20-point programme members Kuldeep Kumar, Jeet Singh, Nikhil Kumar, Atul Patial and Balveer Singh handed over this material to the Chief Minister during his visit to Seraj today.

Sh. Sukhu thanked all the generous people for this spirit of cooperation and said that this is a symbol of sensitivity and unity in the society. He said that this relief material will now be distributed to the disaster affected families through Deputy Commissioner Mandi.

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Thunag College classes to be shifted to Sundernagar due to disaster: Jagat Singh Negi

SHIMLA, 11.07.25-Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi today said that due to the recent disaster in Mandi district, it was no longer feasible to continue holding classes at the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Thunag. Presently, around 300 students were enrolled in the college. The matter had been thoroughly discussed with Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and many students along-with their parents had also met the Chief Minister to express their concerns.

Jagat Singh Negi said that keeping student's safety as the topmost priority, the State Government has decided to shift the college classes to Sundernagar as a temporary arrangement. The Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni had been directed to immediately identify a suitable location in Sundernagar and start academic activities at the earliest. He said that the student's education had already suffered due to the disruption caused by the disaster and assured that extra time would be given to them so that they could prepare for examinations.

The Minister said that the students of Thunag College had a narrow escape during the disaster. He said that the previous government started the college without ensuring proper infrastructure. Most of the students were forced to stay in privately rented accommodations (PGs), which posed additional risks. He said that the admission process for 100 students for the new academic session was currently underway and to avoid any delay and ensure uninterrupted studies these classes would also be held in Sundernagar.

While speaking on the issue of disaster relief, the Minister said that after the 2023 disaster a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) of Rs. 10,000 crore was submitted. However, the Central Government released only Rs. 2,006 crore after a delay of two years and even then the State was required to contribute 25 percent of the amount. He said that the 2025 monsoon also caused extensive damage yet the Centre had not provided any assistance so far.

Sh. Negi called upon the BJP leadership to speak up for the interests of Himachal Pradesh at the Centre. He said that BJP national president and Union Minister JP Nadda, who hails from Himachal along with the four BJP MPs from the State, should raise their voices and take up the matter of relief funds with the Union Government.

In response to a question, he welcomed the decision of Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to accompany Chief Minister to Delhi and said that presenting a united front before the Centre would strengthen the State’s case and help in securing adequate support for the rehabilitation of disaster-affected families.

He said that if Sh. Thakur would have agreed in 2023, the State might have received the full relief amount. He also targeted Mandi MP and actress Kangana Ranaut and said that visiting disaster-hit families by crossing rivers and walking through dangerous terrain was not something an actress can handle. He said that Kangana was more suited for Bollywood where the stage is ready, makeup artists are present and even the dialogues are written for her.

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CM visits disaster-hit villages in Nachan Constituency

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Visited the disaster-affected villages of Baga, Syanj and Panglyur in Nachan Assembly Constituency of Mandi district on Thursday to assess the damages caused by recent natural calamity. He met with affected families, consoled them and assured them of all possible support from the state government. He also offered prayers for the peace of the departed souls and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister personally reviewed the extent of destruction in these villages and enquired about the loss of life and property. Visibly moved by the plight of the victims, he stopped at multiple locations along the route to interact with the local residents and listen to their grievances.

Sh. Sukhu said that the scale of the disaster was immense, but the state government stands firmly with every affected family and was committed to their rehabilitation. He assured that all necessary steps would be taken to provide relief and restore normalcy in the area.

In Baga village, two individuals have lost their lives while in Panglyur nine persons were swept away due to flash floods, of which four bodies have been recovered. Search operations are underway to locate the remaining five. The residents of Baga apprised the Chief Minister that a large portion of the hillside collapsed, which caused substantial damages to their homes and livestock.

The Chief Minister assured that full compensation would be provided for the loss of homes, cattle sheds, cows, sheep and goats. He also directed the district administration to make proper and adequate arrangements for stay and rehabilitation of the affected families.

Congress Leader Chet Ram, Chandershekhar Raddey, Vijay Pal Singh, APMC Chairman Sanjeev Gularia, Jeevan Thakur, Naresh Chauhan, Laj Singh Kaushal, Pawan Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, SP Sakshi Verma and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Funds won't be a constraint for relief and rehabilitation: CM

The link roads in disaster affected Seraj area to be opened soon

SHIMLA-11 July, 2025-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his three-day visit to Mandi district visited various disaster affected areas of Seraj and Nachan Assembly Constituencies and took stock of the damage caused due to heavy rains and cloudburst. Talking to media persons at Sundernagar in Mandi district today, the Chief Minister said that the government acted swiftly to restore essential services in the affected areas. He said that the government has opened almost all the major roads of these areas and the work of opening the link roads of the disaster affected area were going on war footing. He said that 50 JCB machines were engaged to open the roads of the affected areas from the very first day of the disaster. He said that the road up to Chail Chowk, Bagsyad, Thunag, Janjehli and Chhatri would be brought under CRIF so that it could be made a composite road.

He said that the road and bridges from Thunag to Janjehli have suffered extensive damage. At present it has been restored temporarily and there will be no shortage of money for restoration works. The government has so far released seven crore rupees for these relief and rescue works so that the restoration work can be accelerated further, he stated. He said that Deputy CM and PWD Minister had already visited and assessed the damages in the disaster affected areas.

The Chief Minister said that there has been unprecedented loss in these areas and the government and the district administration were providing relief and other materials to the affected families day and night. He said that livestock, crops and vegetables have also suffered a lot due to this disaster. He said that the state government would provide compensation to the affected families for buying clothes and also for loss of livestock besides all possible help from its own resources. He said that at many places in the disaster-affected area. In this regard, he will seek permission from the Central Government to give forest land to the people so that they could be settled at a safer place. He urged the BJP MPs of the state to support the state government's proposal to get permission from the Central Government so that people can be settled at a safe place.

Sh. Sukhu said that in the next two days, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani would be in the disaster-affected areas and will take stock of the relief and rescue operations there. He said that if the affected families live in rented houses, the state government will give them Rs 5000 per month rent in rural areas and Rs 10,000 per month rent in urban areas. He said that heavy rains have also caused a lot of damage in the Dharampur area of Mandi district as well and MLA Chandrashekhar was helping the people day and night in relief and rescue operations.