Did Himachal Guv Shukla Visit Disaster-Hit Areas in Mandi and Meet Affected Families?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Governor Shukla's visit highlights the importance of community support during disasters.
- Compensation efforts are underway, with over Rs 3 crore approved.
- Residents are showing remarkable resilience despite significant losses.
- A Central team is assessing damage to guide future recovery efforts.
- Immediate restoration and preventive measures are critical.
Mandi, Aug 3 (NationPress) Shiv Pratap Shukla, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, continued his visit to the areas affected by disaster on Sunday, exploring Thunag, Bakshyar, and Janjehli located in the Seraj Assembly Constituency of Mandi district.
The Governor engaged with families who faced hardships and distributed necessary relief supplies.
During his visit to Thunag, he noted that this region has suffered the highest damage from the recent natural disaster, resulting in significant losses to private properties, agricultural land, and livestock.
He reported that compensation cases exceeding Rs 3 crore have been approved for final sanction.
Commending the local community's resilience, the Governor stated: “Despite experiencing immense loss, the strength and resolve of the residents here are praiseworthy. While it may not be feasible to provide full compensation for the damages, we will strive to extend assistance at all levels.”
He emphasized the importance of utilizing both internal resources and seeking additional arrangements to effectively manage such crises.
Governor Shukla also visited the relief camp in Bakshyar and engaged with affected residents at the PWD Rest House in Thunag.
He went on to the Panchayat Ghar in Pakhred to assess the situation in the Jhundi and Pakhred panchayats.
In Janjehli, he met with disaster-affected families and offered them words of comfort.
He communicated that five truckloads of relief supplies have already been dispatched to Mandi and one to Kullu from the Raj Bhavan in Shimla.
The Governor assured that further assistance would be sent promptly upon request from the district administration.
Referring to the calamity as a major disaster, he noted that immediate restoration poses a significant challenge, and there is a critical need for preventive measures to avert similar situations in the future.
He highlighted the Supreme Court’s guidance on environmental protection, emphasizing the need for collective action.
The Governor also mentioned that a Central team has been dispatched by the Government of India to evaluate the disaster's causes and the extent of the damage, which will inform future planning and mitigation strategies.
Jairam Thakur, Leader of the Opposition, who accompanied the Governor, expressed that the community remains in deep shock as their livelihoods have been devastated.
He commended the state government for restoring essential services such as roads, electricity, and water supply through the district administration.
Thakur expressed gratitude towards the Governor for providing support through the Red Cross.
He also noted that rehabilitation presents a significant challenge, as many affected individuals are still living in temporary conditions.