Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, on her visit to flood-ravaged Himachal Pradesh, urges the Central government to declare the state’s crisis as a national disaster. She emphasizes the need for immediate assistance as the region grapples with unprecedented losses.
In a heartfelt plea during her visit to the flood-affected areas of Himachal Pradesh, Congress leader and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi called upon the Central government to declare the ongoing crisis in the state a national disaster. She expressed her concern and solidarity while visiting the Shiv Temple in Shimla’s Summer Hill, a location marred by a tragic landslide on August 14, claiming the lives of 20 people.
Joined by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and other state ministers, Gandhi attentively assessed the situation and met with the families of the victims. She shared her sentiments with reporters, acknowledging the anguish of the affected communities, stating, “The situation is very painful. People have suffered a great loss. We said yesterday too that everyone has to face this together.”
Himachal Pradesh has borne the brunt of extensive damage due to relentless rainfall. The estimated losses stand at ₹8,600 crore, a figure that Chief Minister Sukhu warns could escalate to ₹12,000 crore. Tragically, 426 lives have been lost in recent rain-related incidents, with 39 individuals still unaccounted for. Over 2,575 houses have been completely destroyed, while 11,000 more have suffered partial damage.
Gandhi commended the resilience of the people of Himachal, who have stood together and assisted each other during these trying times. She also acknowledged that the state government has initiated efforts to compensate those who have suffered losses.
However, she stressed, “If the Centre declares this a national disaster, it will help the state a lot. Looking at Centre’s policies, it doesn’t seem like they understand the height of destruction that the state of Himachal has faced.”
Priyanka Gandhi arrived in Himachal on Tuesday, where she was received by Chief Minister Sukhu at the Chandigarh airport before flying to Bhuntar airport in Kullu. Her itinerary included meetings with families displaced by the July floods in Kullu and Manali, as well as visits to Pandoh and Mandi, the epicenters of cloudbursts and floods in July and August. She also made her way to Shamli in Solan district, where houses have been damaged due to land subsidence.
Furthermore, Gandhi revealed that Himachal Pradesh Congress Chief and Member of Parliament, Pratibha Singh, intends to raise the issue of declaring the havoc wreaked by rainfall in Himachal as a national disaster during the upcoming special session of Parliament, scheduled from September 18 to 22.
She emphasized, “We don’t know what this special session will be about or whether they will allow these issues to come up. But we were discussing that even if that doesn’t happen, representation should go to the Central Government, and we will all put our strength into that and try to convince them that they must declare it a national disaster.”
Speaking to news agency Pratibha Singh emphasized her duty to present the concerns of the people of Himachal in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Singh stated, “I have written a letter to all our MPs that we should together go and meet the PM. And will caution the PM that he didn’t even speak a word on Himachal Pradesh where such a tragedy occurred and no financial aid has been announced for this…I will raise this issue in the Parliament too, that Himachal Pradesh should be helped during these times.”
