The Newz Radar
KULLU: Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, currently on a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from politicising the rain devastation in the state and extend a relief package.
During her visit, Priyanka Gandhi interacted with the disaster-affected residents of Kullu and Manali on Tuesday morning, gaining firsthand insight into their hardships. She then proceeded to Pandoh in Mandi, a region majorly affected by the torrential rains in July. The recent downpour had led to the inundation of homes and the destruction of fertile land caused by the overflowing waters of the BBMB fam.
Next on her itinerary, Priyanka Gandhi plans to meet with disaster-stricken individuals in Shamti, Solan. Her day began with an early morning arrival in Chandigarh from Delhi, where she received a warm welcome from Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Congress state president Pratibha Singh. The trio, along with Himachal Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, then proceeded to Bhuntar in Kullu.
Later in the evening, Priyanka Gandhi is scheduled to travel to Chharabra in Shimla. It remains a possibility that she may also visit flood-affected areas in Shimla on the following day, as the party’s final itinerary has yet to be confirmed.
The ongoing monsoon season has wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, resulting in the destruction of both private and government property estimated at more than Rs 8,600 crore. As many as 425 lives have been lost during this period, with 2,559 houses entirely demolished and an additional 10,890 houses partially damaged. Furthermore, 318 shops and 5,680 cowsheds have met a similar fate. The state has witnessed a staggering 164 landslides and 72 flood incidents from June 24 to September 10, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
