Latest news with #SukhvinderSukhu
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Himachal CM launches sapling drive with a target to cover 9,000 hectares in forests
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Thursday inaugurated the 76th state-level Van-Mahotsav in the Kanlog area of Shimla by planting a deodar sapling. The plantation drive has a budgetary provision of Rs 100 crore with a target to cover 9,000 hectares in forests. The Chief Minister also launched the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojna across all Assembly constituencies and virtually interacted with ministers and legislators and discussed forest conservation and afforestation measures in detail. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Van Mahotsav highlighted the importance of forests, often called the Earth's lifeline. 'This year, around 9,000 hectares of forests would be planted with saplings that comprised fruit-bearing ones.' He said the government has been working to protect and enrich rich biodiversity. These efforts would contribute to achieve the target of increasing 30 per cent forest cover by 2030. The Chief Minister said the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojna would not only promote forest development but also enhance public participation and strengthen the rural economy. Under this scheme, mahila mandals, yuvak mandals, self-help groups and joint forest committees would plant and look after saplings on one to five hectares of designated forest land for five years. This year, saplings are being planted across 1,000 to 1,500 hectares at a cost of Rs 20 crore. An additional Rs 1.2 lakh per hectare is being provided for sapling maintenance, said the Chief Minister. He said the government is also focusing on financial discipline for 'vyavastha parivartan' and introducing reforms in the working of the Forest Department. The officers were being encouraged to dedicate more time to fieldwork related to forest expansion and conservation rather than office routines. The Chief Minister said the government is implementing schemes that provide rural communities with self-employment opportunities near their homes, thereby strengthening their livelihoods. He said the initiatives of the government in natural farming are also being recognized and appreciated nationally. He gave cheques for Rs 1,00,000 each to mahila mandals for sapling plantation under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojna. Also cheques for Rs 50,000 each have also been distributed under JICA project to the beneficiaries for livelihood.
NDTV
07-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Video: In 'Pushpa' -Esque Scene, Lakhs Of Logs Float Down Stream In Himachal Pradesh
In a scene that could have been straight out of the blockbuster 'Pushpa: The Rise', wooden logs worth crores were spotted floating down a river in Himachal Pradesh. A viral video taken from atop a bridge shows lakhs of wooden logs floating near the Pandoh Dam in Mandi after floating downstream from Kullu. In the movie 'Pushpa: The Rise' the protagonist played by Allu Arjun is involved in the trade of red sandalwood and, to avoid getting caught at police checkpoints, he dumps the logs in a stream and retrieves them at a dam downstream. The Himachal video was from June 24 and the opposition said it could point to illegal timber cutting in forests in the state, with the smugglers employing a similar modus operandi. The state government, while pointing out that the logs could be a result of trees getting uprooted because of flash floods, has ordered a Crime Investigation Department (CID) inquiry. After a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Monday, his principal adviser Naresh Chauhan said in Hindi, "We took action immediately and asked officials from the forest department to find out what happened. People are saying there could be illegal tree felling, but the floating logs could be a result of cloudbursts. Trees get uprooted and other logs that lie on the forest floor for years are also swept away." "We have taken this very seriously, however, and Chief Minister Sukhu has ordered an inquiry to find out if there is any illegal felling. We are also helping everyone affected by the cloudbursts in the state," he added. Himachal Pradesh has seen at least 23 flash floods, 19 cloudbursts and 16 landslides since the onset of the monsoon on June 20. At least 78 people have died and over 30 are missing.
Hans India
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Monsoon mayhem: Extensive damage to houses, fields in Mandi, says Himachal CM
Shimla: Saying that this week's heavy rainfall and multiple cloudbursts have left 69 dead and 37 missing in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Friday stated the extensive damage to houses and fields was in the Seraj and Dharampur areas of Mandi district. The government has decided to provide Rs 5,000 per month as rent to affected families whose houses have been damaged and are living in rented accommodation. He said the SDMs concerned have been directed to provide food supplies to the affected people. The Chief Minister told the media here that these key decisions were taken after discussions with Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, Deputy Speaker Vinay Kumar and other legislators. He said the disaster left 110 people injured. Soon, he would visit the affected areas again. Sukhu said he had a telephone conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the damage in the state. The Union Home Minister has assured full support, and a Central team will visit the state to assess the situation. He said 14 cloudburst incidents have occurred in Mandi district alone, a matter of concern. 'There is a need to study why such frequent cloudbursts were happening. The issue was also raised with the Union Home Minister,' said the Chief Minister. He said the state has suffered a loss of Rs 700 crore owing to the rain-related calamities. Roads, electricity infrastructure, and drinking water supply schemes have been severely impacted. He said that all Cabinet ministers were conducting review meetings in their respective departments to assess the extent of the damage. Regarding the closure of road links, the Chief Minister said nearly 300 roads are blocked, around 790 drinking water schemes have been damaged, and 332 power transformers have been affected. In Mandi district alone, 402 people have been rescued as part of relief operations. He said 92 students and teachers who were stranded at the Forestry and Horticulture in Thunag College have been safely evacuated. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been carrying out search operations in several villages in Thunag. Responding to a question on National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects in the state, the Chief Minister said large companies were often awarded contracts, but they lack understanding of the fragile hill terrain. As a result, they conduct hill-cutting as per their convenience, which causes damage. He advised NHAI to consider awarding such contracts to local contractors, who are familiar with the topography. Meanwhile, a state government spokesperson said 241 water supply schemes were damaged in the Thunag area, of which 66 have already been temporarily restored. As of now, 164 roads remain blocked in the Mandi district. In addition, rescue and relief efforts are in full swing in Rukchui, Bharad and Piyala Deji villages in the Thunag subdivision. So far, 65 people from Thunag have been moved to safer places and provided medical care.
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First Post
04-07-2025
- Climate
- First Post
60 deaths, Rs 400 crore losses: How Himachal is battling the worst monsoon in years
A series of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides has left Himachal Pradesh reeling. The relentless rains have led to over 60 deaths, dozens missing and damages estimated at over Rs 400 crore in the hill state. Tourist districts like Mandi, Kullu, and Shimla are the worst hit read more The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange and yellow alerts for several districts across Himachal Pradesh, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas between July 4 and July 10. File image/PTI Himachal Pradesh is struggling to cope with the impact of unrelenting monsoon rains that have caused tremendous damage across the hill state. A series of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides have resulted in over 60 deaths, with dozens still missing, and damages estimated at over Rs 400 crore, according to the State Disaster Management Authority. Districts like Mandi, Kullu, and Shimla have seen the worst of the destruction. And with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing fresh alerts for more heavy rain, officials fear the worst may not be over yet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's a closer look at the unfolding situation across Himachal. Dozens dead, many missing — Mandi hit the hardest Since June 20, more than 60 people have died in rain-related incidents across Himachal Pradesh, with another 40 still missing, according to the State Emergency Operations Centre. Mandi district has recorded the highest number of deaths at 17, followed by Kangra with 13 deaths, Chamba with six, and Shimla reporting five fatalities. Other districts, including Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una, have also reported deaths. The impact has been particularly severe in Karsog and Thunag subdivisions, where sudden cloudbursts have destroyed homes, roads, and farmlands within minutes. Other areas like Dharampur and Bagsayed have also faced extensive damage. In one part of Mandi, an entire village has been wiped out. File image/ PTI In one part of Mandi, an entire village has been wiped out. A relief camp has been set up for those displaced, and the Indian Air Force carried out air drops of food packets for stranded residents on Thursday. According to PTI, five relief camps have been established so far, sheltering 402 rescued people, with 348 of them from Mandi alone. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said 14 separate cloudbursts had been reported since the onset of the monsoon. He said his government 'stands with the disaster-affected families' of the state and, according to ANI, will provide Rs 5,000 to each family as 'renting accommodation'. #WATCH | Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, "Since the rains began, 69 people have lost their lives, 37 people are missing, 110 people have been injured, and damages worth approximately Rs 700 crore have been incurred... Roads and water projects… — ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Search and rescue efforts are now in place, with a focus on areas like Thunag, where relentless rains have brought everything to a halt. Two teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), alongside police and home guards, are actively engaged in search and rescue operations in the district. Search and rescue efforts are now in place in Himachal Pradesh. PTI Schools shut, bridges gone, and crores lost In Shimla, heavy rains have flooded several schools, forcing closures and causing distress among students and parents. 'It's raining heavily. Water is entering our classrooms, our clothes and books are soaked. Our teachers are telling us it's better to stay at home,' said Tanuja Thakur, a student in Shimla, in a statement to ANI 'Our school is surrounded by trees. There is always a fear that a tree could fall. Thankfully, we are safe for now,' she added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Videos circulating online show terrifying scenes, rivers swollen with rainwater tearing through villages, sweeping away homes and leaving trails of destruction in their wake. Heavy rain has crippled Himchal Pradesh, with more than 250 roads blocked, and 614 power lines, and 130 water systems disrupted.#HimachalWeather — Vani Mehrotra (@vani_mehrotra) July 1, 2025 Across the state, hundreds of houses have been damaged or destroyed. At least 14 bridges have been washed away, and nearly 300 animals, including 164 cattle, have perished in the disaster. The overall damage to infrastructure is staggering. According to an NDTV report, more than 500 roads are currently closed, severely impacting connectivity. Over 500 power distribution transformers (DTRs) have failed, leaving thousands without electricity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD DC Rana, Special Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority, confirmed the scale of damage. He said the state has recorded over Rs 400 crore in losses due to flash foods so far. But the actual figure is likely to be much higher. PTI Water supply has also taken a major hit, with 797 drinking water schemes rendered non-functional over the past few days due to the heavy rain. DC Rana, Special Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority, confirmed the scale of damage. 'We have recorded over Rs 400 crore in losses so far, based on entries in our system. But the actual figure is likely to be much higher,' he said. 'Right now, our priority is on search, rescue, and restoring essential services. A detailed damage assessment will take more time." Earlier today Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Minister and promised relief and help, not just for Himachal but other states affected by the monsoon, including Gujarat and Rajasthan. IMD predicts more rain in the coming days The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange and yellow alerts for several districts across Himachal Pradesh, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas between July 4 and July 10. A red alert — indicating extremely heavy rainfall — has been issued specifically for July 6. Amid ongoing relief operations, officials are also drawing attention to the broader climate crisis behind these extreme weather events. 'These events are a consequence of global warming and climate change. Himachal is not untouched by these impacts,' said Rana. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
NDTV
03-07-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Himachal Pradesh Rain Fury: 34 Missing, Search Operation Continues In Mandi
Shimla: Rescuers resumed the search operation in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on the third day on Thursday to locate 34 people who went missing after cloudbursts and heavy rain triggered massive landslides and flash floods. The India Meteorological Department has predicted a moderate flash flood risk in Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan districts till Friday. Amid heavy rain and broken roads, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team on Wednesday set an example of courage and dedication by carrying a pregnant woman in a palanquin for miles to reach a hospital in the Thunag area in Mandi district. Torrential rain on Tuesday caused severe flooding, washing away 14 bridges, 148 houses and two shops, resulting in 11 deaths, largely in Mandi district. The death count could rise as the survival of the missing people after more than 48 hours of disaster is getting dim. A total of 157 people have been housed in five relief camps, the HP State Emergency Operation Centre said. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Wednesday visited Syathi village, which is located in the Laungani panchayat in Dharampur in Mandi, where he met families affected by a cloudburst, listened to their woes, shared grief and also reviewed relief and rehabilitation operations. The district administration has provided assistance of Rs 1.70 lakh as financial aid, ration, tarpaulins and other relief material to each household. Speaking to the affected families, the Chief Minister said the government stands firmly with all the affected and assured them of all possible assistance. Recalling the frightening incident, villagers narrated their sorrows and said that the entire village was swept away all of a sudden, and they now do not have a place left to pitch even the tents for shelter. 'Many of us narrowly escaped death and were eyewitnesses to the horrifying incident,' a local resident told the Chief Minister.
