Rains: HP incurs loss of about Rs 600 crore crops, property

Excessive rains and floods this season have claimed 33 lives, perished 610 heads of cattle in Himachal Pradesh, while the loss to crops and property was estimated to be around Rs 600 crore.
Heavy rains coupled with flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides at many places on August 14 and 15 also caused extensive loss and detailed reports of the loss are being prepared, Revenue Minister Kaul Singh said.
A memorandum giving details of the loss and damage would be submitted to the central government soon for seeking financial assistance, he added.
He said rainfall in the state on August 14 and 15 was 140 per cent to 204 per cent above normal, and Mandi and Hamirpur districts were worst affected while Kullu, Bilaspur, Kinnaur, Sirmaur and Solan also suffered heavy losses.

Roads and houses were damaged due to landslides. A few bridges were also washed away in flash floods.
To deal with the situation, State Emergency Operation Centre has been set up at Shimla while District Emergency Operation Centres have been set up in each district, he added.
Additional District Magistrates have been appointed as nodal officers (Disaster Management) and Rs 1.15 crore has been released for creation of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), he said, adding during 2013-14 a sum of Rs 293 crore was granted for relief, rehabilitation, repair and restoration of damaged works and maintenance of public property.

The minister said adequate funds have been provided to Deputy Commissioners, department of PWD, IPH, Power and Agriculture for carrying out relief works and Rs 76.50 crore has already been released.