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Amid Heavy Rains in Himachal Pradesh, BJP Questions CM Sukhu’s Bihar Visit, Demands Assembly Adjournment
Shimla, Updated At : 13:20 PM Aug 28, 2025 IST
As relentless rains wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, the opposition BJP on Thursday demanded that the ongoing Assembly session be adjourned, accusing the government of failing to treat relief and rehabilitation as a serious priority.
Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur questioned Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s absence from the state, saying, “At a time when the situation in Himachal is so critical, the Chief Minister should have been here rather than attending a political program in Bihar.”
Opposition MLAs from Chamba—Hans Raj, Janak Raj, and D.S. Thakur—also voiced concern over the CM’s absence at such a delicate time.
Responding to the criticism, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said it was wrong to portray the government as inactive. “Like all of you, we too are deeply concerned about the situation. Please don’t give this a political spin. The Leader of the Opposition is trying to politicize the issue, while the entire government is working day and night to speed up relief and rehabilitation,” he said.
Agnihotri noted that the entire state has been affected, with Chamba suffering the worst damage. He said the Chief Secretary is in constant touch with district officials and monitoring the situation round-the-clock. The Pathankot–Chamba road, he added, was reopened at 1 a.m., and 3,000 people stranded on the Manimahesh route have been rescued.
His remarks angered the opposition, which rose to its feet, shouting slogans. Amid the uproar, the Speaker adjourned proceedings.
Jairam Thakur stressed that while Mandi was initially the worst-hit, the monsoon’s advance has caused devastation in other regions as well. “Chamba, especially during the Manimahesh Yatra, has been badly affected. The most serious concern is that all connectivity in Chamba has been cut off. In Mandi too, the road beyond Pandoh has been damaged, leaving tourists and locals stranded in different places,” he said.
He argued that helicopter services should already have been deployed to rescue people and deliver rations. “At such a time of crisis, the Chief Minister should be here. It is ironic that while the state is going through such a grave phase, he is busy at a political program in Bihar,” he said, urging the Speaker to intervene and ensure effective arrangements.
Hans Raj highlighted severe damage in Manimahesh and said the situation in Kullu-Manali, Chamba, Pangi, and Lahaul-Spiti was extremely serious. “The CM should have stayed here to personally monitor the crisis,” he said, noting that 1.5 feet of snow had accumulated at Sach Pass, leaving ration vehicles stranded and cut off from communication.
Bharmaur MLA Janak Raj said the region has had no connectivity for the past 72 hours, and the Khara-Mukh–Chamba road is in such a bad state that thousands remain stranded. “When three districts have suffered unprecedented devastation, the state government ought to have shown greater seriousness,” he said.
Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania said he was open to adjourning the session if both the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the Leader of the Opposition agreed.
Acknowledging the severity of the crisis, the Speaker said, “Nearly every district has suffered damage due to continuous rain over the past 72 hours, with Chamba the worst-hit. The most alarming part is the loss of mobile connectivity in Chamba. Conditions in Bharmaur, Tissa, Holi, and Salooni are extremely critical. I agree that the situation is grave, and it is for you all to decide whether the Assembly session should be adjourned.”
