CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Visits Disaster-Hit Villages in Dharampur, Assures Relief and Rehabilitation
Chief Minister talking to the affected families
Mandi/Shimla, July 2:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday visited Syathi village in the Laungani panchayat of Dharampur in Mandi district, one of the worst-hit areas due to a recent cloudburst. During his visit, the Chief Minister met affected families, expressed solidarity in their time of grief, and reviewed the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts being carried out by the district administration.
The cloudburst has affected 61 residents, causing significant damage to homes, cattle sheds, and livestock. The district administration has already provided immediate relief in the form of ₹1.70 lakh in financial aid, food supplies, tarpaulins, and other essentials.
Speaking with the affected families, the Chief Minister assured them that the state government stands firmly by their side during this difficult time. “I have come here personally to share your pain. You are not alone in this tragedy,” he said. He also instructed officials to ensure that all necessary support is extended without delay.
He further announced that a special relief package would be provided for the reconstruction of damaged homes and enhanced compensation would be given for the loss of livestock, including cows, goats, and sheep, as well as for destroyed cattle sheds.
Several villagers, recounting their ordeal, said their entire settlement had been washed away and that they no longer even had land to pitch tents. Responding to their appeal for land, the Chief Minister assured them that if government land is available in the area, it will be allotted. If the available land falls under forest jurisdiction, the matter will be taken up with the central government.
CM Sukhu also inspected the damage to the Mandi-Kotli road.
In an informal interaction with the media later, the Chief Minister stated that the heavy rainfall had caused large-scale destruction across Mandi district. In Syathi village alone, 20 houses were completely destroyed in a landslide. Fortunately, 61 residents were evacuated to relief shelters in time. He emphasized the need for geological studies to determine the reasons behind shifting rock layers and landslides.
He noted that 8 to 10 cloudburst incidents have occurred across the state in recent days, possibly linked to climate change. “Both the Centre and the state need to jointly study the causes behind these events,” he said. He also mentioned the severe damage in Thunag, Janjehli, and Bagsyad regions of Mandi.
Efforts to restore essential services are ongoing, with personnel working around the clock. Thanks to their swift response, road connectivity in Bagsyad has already been restored.
So far, 10 deaths have been confirmed in Mandi district, with 34 people still missing. The fatalities include five in Gohar, three in Thunag, and one each in Jogindernagar and Karsog. Identification efforts are underway.
Dharampur MLA Chandra Shekhar praised the Chief Minister’s prompt response, stating that his visit within 24 hours of the disaster shows sensitive and proactive leadership.
Present during the visit were Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Chairman Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Congress leader Pawan Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma, and other senior officials.
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