Special Relief Package Announced for Mandi Disaster Victims; New Homes for Displaced Families: CM Sukhu

Shimla, July 11:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced that the state government will provide a special relief package for those affected by the recent devastating disaster in Mandi district. He emphasized that the government is acting with sensitivity and urgency to ensure effective rescue and relief operations—not for political mileage, but in true service of the people.

Returning to Shimla on Friday after a two-day tour of the disaster-hit areas in Mandi, the Chief Minister said in an informal media interaction that the government has initiated a fast-track offline tender process, worth ₹5 lakh, for clearing debris and reopening roads in the affected areas of Seraj, Dharampur, and Karsog. He admitted that complete road restoration will require more time and substantial funds.

He added that a special relief package has been prepared to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and others severely affected by the disaster. This package—soon to be presented before the Cabinet—will include compensation for destroyed homes, loss of household belongings, and livestock damages, ensuring that no family is left unsupported.

CM Sukhu said the government is in favor of resettling displaced families on forest land, but final approval must come from the central government. He appealed to all four Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs from the state to personally meet the Prime Minister and Home Minister to ensure this issue is prioritized, and to help secure the required permissions.

“If the Centre grants approval, the state government will immediately begin building homes and rehabilitating all families who lost their homes in the 2023 and 2024 disasters,” he assured. The CM also noted that a proposal supporting this resettlement has already been passed in the state assembly, and it is now the collective responsibility of all seven MPs to take this forward under the Forest Act.

Highlighting the challenges of climate change, the Chief Minister explained that earlier generations had built homes near rivers and streams based on the environmental stability of the time. However, with the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, the state government has introduced a regulation mandating a minimum 50-meter distance from water bodies for new constructions. The government is now working toward further legislative reforms through wide stakeholder consultations.

He also reiterated his demand for a special relief package from the central government, noting that Himachal Pradesh has not yet received such assistance despite facing major calamities. CM Sukhu said he plans to visit Delhi soon to personally raise this issue with the Prime Minister and Home Minister, seeking both justice and timely rehabilitation for disaster-hit families across the state.