Kangra— Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday undertook an aerial survey of flood and landslide-affected regions in Himachal Pradesh before holding a high-level review meeting in Kangra. He announced a relief package of Rs 1,500 crore to support immediate recovery and long-term rebuilding in the state, which has faced extensive damage from heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides.
The Prime Minister said the Centre would advance the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and expedite aid under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Awas Yojana, and the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Additional mini kits for livestock, restoration of national highways, and targeted assistance for farmers without power connections were also assured.
Under the PM Awas Yojana, damaged houses will be geotagged to ensure swift assessment and delivery of compensation. Schools too will be able to geotag damage reports to receive timely assistance under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. To address water scarcity, the government announced construction of rainwater recharge structures to improve groundwater levels.
PM Modi met families who lost loved ones in the disaster and expressed his condolences. He announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.
He also interacted with personnel of the NDRF, SDRF, Army, and Aapda Mitra volunteers, appreciating their role in rescue and relief operations. “In this difficult time, the Union Government stands firmly with our brothers and sisters of Himachal Pradesh. No effort will be spared to support them,” he said.
The Centre has already dispatched inter-ministerial teams to assess the damage, with further aid to be announced based on their reports and the state government’s memorandum.
