PM Modi to Visit Disaster-Hit Himachal Today; State Expects Special Relief Package
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Himachal Pradesh today to assess the damage caused by recent natural disasters, including heavy rainfall and landslides. He is scheduled to arrive at Gaggal Airport in Kangra at 1:20 PM via a special aircraft.
After his arrival, the Prime Minister is scheduled to conduct a review meeting with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and senior officials at the airport around 1:30 PM. The meeting is expected to last till 2:15 PM, after which PM Modi will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected regions in Chamba, Mandi, and Kullu.
Only around 20 participants have been permitted to attend the high-level meeting. Enhanced security arrangements have been put in place ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. Over 400 police personnel will be deployed, and drones will be used for aerial surveillance. Kangra district will be declared a no-fly zone from 12 PM to 4 PM today, with a complete ban on flights and paragliding activities.
State Seeks ₹5,000 Crore Relief Package
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that Himachal has suffered losses amounting to ₹5,000 crore due to the calamity. The state government will request a special relief package from the Prime Minister to provide timely support to affected families. A formal memorandum outlining the demands has also been prepared.
Sukhu added that many people have been rendered homeless and landless. The state will request relaxation under the Forest Rights Act to allocate one bigha of land to such families for reconstruction. He also stressed that policies made for plains cannot be applied to hilly states, citing the disparity in road construction costs and terrain challenges.
Top Political Leaders Gather in Dharamshala
Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur have arrived in Dharamshala. CM Sukhu will leave from Shimla for Dharamshala on Tuesday morning.
The CM tweeted: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Himachal today to assess the disaster’s devastation. I warmly welcome him to the sacred land of Himachal. The Prime Minister is like a guardian to the nation.”
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