HimVani
Shimla (Oct 28): Recent unprecedented rains claimed as many as 62 human lives along with 5,889 cattle due to heavy rains. Disclosing that a central team will soon be visiting the state for spot assessment of damages caused, Revenue minister Gulab Singh Thakur said in a statement that the team headed by Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, would visit the state.
Thakur said that the state has been badly affected by unprecedented heavy rains during the recent monsoon rains. He said that due to the rains there was damage to 6,656 dwelling houses and 1,737 cowsheds, besides public property worth crores of rupees was also damaged. He said the state would require funds to the tune of Rs 1793.37 crore on restoration work.
He said that the team would visit Sangla and Peo area in tribal district of Kinnaur and interior areas of Shimla and Sirmaur district to assess damages caused by incessant rains. He said that on the last day of its visit the team would conduct a meeting with senior officers of the state government.
The minister said that total loss to the Public Works Department had been estimated around Rs 931.35 crore, followed by Rs 265.55 crore by Irrigation and Public Health department on account of damages to water supply and irrigation schemes.
He said that heavy rains had affected 1,06,467 hectare of land under horticultural crops causing an estimated loss of Rs 236.41 crore followed by Rs 48.93 crore estimated damages to agricultural crops. He said that besides, public buildings such as patwarkhanas, kanungo huts, panchayat ghars, primary health centres had also been severely damaged and damage on this account had been estimated at Rs 521 crore.
