Will PM Modi Assess the Devastation Caused by Monsoon in Punjab and Himachal on September 9?

Chandigarh/Shimla, Sep 7 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday to evaluate the aftermath of the devastating monsoon that has caused significant destruction in both northern states.

In response to the upcoming visit, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar remarked on Sunday that Prime Minister Modi “is profoundly concerned about the flooding crisis in Punjab and is attentively monitoring the situation.”

Similarly, Himachal Pradesh's Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jairam Thakur informed the media that he will be in Dharamsala on September 9 for a meeting with Prime Minister Modi to assess the losses incurred by the state during the monsoon.

The monsoon has tragically resulted in over 350 fatalities in the state.

Thakur stated he intends to inform the Prime Minister about the damage in areas they visit.

Punjab BJP chief Jakhar added: “He (Modi) is visiting Punjab on September 9 to personally evaluate local conditions and grasp the ground realities to offer maximum assistance to the people of Punjab.”

Previously, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was dispatched to assess the situation.

“Two teams from the central government, which have been evaluating the flood damage in Punjab, are preparing to submit their findings to the central government soon. The Government of India stands resolutely with the people of Punjab,” Jakhar shared on X.

It has been reported that after participating in the September 9 vice-presidential election in Delhi, the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Amritsar on Tuesday afternoon, where he will conduct a review meeting with state ministers and officials.

Subsequently, he will proceed to the neighboring hilly state of Himachal Pradesh.

The Punjab government has estimated losses amounting to Rs 13,289 crore due to the floods. This figure was presented to the members of two central inter-ministerial teams that have been touring the region to evaluate the damage.

Punjab Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian stated that 1,996 villages across 22 districts have been affected, impacting a population of 387,013.

In total, 22,854 individuals have been rescued, with the highest evacuations occurring in Gurdaspur district (5,581), followed by Fazilka (4,202), Ferozepur (3,888), Amritsar (3,260), Hoshiarpur (1,616), Pathankot (1,139), and Kapurthala (1,428).

Meanwhile, two teams from the Union Home Ministry arrived in Himachal Pradesh to investigate the damage in Chamba and Kullu districts, which have suffered severe devastation due to relentless rainfall, resulting in loss of life and significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

Both teams will continue their assessment until September 10 and will compile a report for the Home Ministry, as confirmed by a senior state government official to IANS.

The state government has estimated damage at Rs 3,959 crore. Rainfall continues during the monsoon, and losses are escalating across all 12 districts of the state.

The Indian Air Force has been deployed for rescue operations to assist stranded pilgrims during the Manimahesh Yatra.

The Congress government in the state has been advocating for a special relief package from the central government.

In June, a tragedy struck with 31 fatalities in Seraj within Mandi district, the constituency of BJP leader Jairam Thakur, leading to disrupted road connectivity.

Afterward, Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, and now Chamba districts have been severely affected. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has reported that 869 roads remain blocked, along with 1,572 power supply lines and 389 water supply schemes that have been disrupted.

Since June 20, the state has experienced over 330 landslides, leaving a path of devastation. In reaction to Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Himachal Pradesh, state Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh expressed earlier in Shimla that PM Modi has previously not visited the state during times of natural disasters.

“It is a positive development that PM Modi is now coming to Himachal Pradesh to visit areas affected by disaster,” he noted. He emphasized that Prime Minister Modi “views Himachal Pradesh as his second home.”

“The state government has already been informed about his anticipated visit,” Singh mentioned, adding that the government has requested the disaster in Himachal Pradesh be declared a national disaster.

During the recent Monsoon Session of the Assembly, the government passed a resolution to classify the state as a national disaster-hit area due to the exceptional circumstances.