S Gopal Puri
Dharamshala: Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in rain-ravaged Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu posted a heartfelt message on Facebook, laying bare the state’s pain and calling for urgent national-level dialogue on safeguarding the country’s fragile hill regions.
In the post, Sukhu welcomed the Prime Minister to “the sacred soil of Himachal” and described the unprecedented suffering the state has endured — homes destroyed, lives lost and infrastructure crippled by relentless rain and landslides since 2023. “This is a time of unbearable grief and pain,” the CM wrote. “The sorrow of losing loved ones and the devastation of homes pierces the heart.”
Calls for sustainable hill development model
Sukhu’s appeal went beyond immediate relief, urging PM Modi to initiate a countrywide policy rethink on development in mountainous regions amid climate change. “Should our current development model continue unchanged in the Himalayas? How do we protect our mountains, their beauty and their resources?” Sukhu asked, stressing the need for a sustainable approach that balances growth with ecological safety.
He also signaled his intent to seek relaxations in forest land rules to provide plots for displaced families and push for better-aligned infrastructure policies for hill states. “We must not only rebuild homes, but also prevent mountains from collapsing,” he wrote.
Himachal pins hopes on PM Modi’s visit
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive at Gaggal Airport around 1.20 pm on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) where he will meet CM Sukhu and senior officials to review damage estimates — pegged at over Rs 5,000 crore. Aerial surveys of Chamba, Mandi and Kullu will follow.
The high-stakes visit has raised hopes of a substantial relief package for the disaster-struck state. Security has been tightened in Kangra, with a no-fly zone declared from noon to 4 pm and around 400 police personnel deployed, while top state leaders, including the Governor, Deputy CM and the Leader of Opposition, have already reached Dharamshala ahead of the PM’s arrival.
