Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday visited Kullu to take first hand information on the spot about the losses, rehabilitation and rescue operations being undertaken by the State Government keeping in view the incessant and heavy rains in the State in general and Kullu district in particular for the last few days. He also took aerial survey of the Lahaul valley upto Chandertal to access the damages caused due to untimely snow.
Thakur said the State has suffered a loss of over Rs. 1230 crore excluding the recent losses due to heavy rains in the State for the last four days. He said that the State Government has urged the Union Government to provide liberal assistance to the State Government and Rs. 200 crore as immediate relief for undertaking relief, restoration and rehabilitation works.
The Chief minister said the state government at its own has released Rs. 230 crores for rehabilitation works. In addition to this, the State Government has decided to release Rs. 30 crore to Kullu district for undertaking maintenance of roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
He said that on his request three helicopters of Indian Air Force has been provided by the Union Government for evacuating the tourists and all those stranded in Lahaul valley due to untimely and unpredicted heavy snowfall. He said that the Union Government has assured all possible help and if required more choppers would be made available for the rescue of stranded people.
