Virbhadra meets PM, seeks Rs.1,000 crore calamity relief

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here and sought a financial relief of Rs.1,000 crore for relief and restoration work in the rain-ravaged areas of the state.

The chief minister said the loss to private and public property in the unprecedented rains has been estimated at Rs.2,575 crore.

A total of 24 people have died in weather-related incidents, an official statement said.

Kinnaur was worst-affected district in June 16-18 heavy rains that triggered massive landslides, blocking many roads.

More than 10,000 animals died and 1,000 houses were damaged in the flash floods.

The loss to private property is estimated at around Rs.100 crore, whereas 2,120 roads in the state have been badly affected resulting in a loss of over Rs.1,000 crore, said the statement.

The chief minister demanded that a senior engineer of the Border Roads Organisation, an inter-services organisation under the defence ministry, should be stationed in Kinnaur to expedite the restoration works of the national highway 22.

He also requested the defence ministry to formulate a long-term plan for the strengthening the highway from Wangtu to Kaurik in Kinnaur.

He said the stretch has been ravaged badly by floods since 2000 and sought development of alternative road network.