Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 10 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said a massive disaster had struck three assembly constituencies in Mandi district due to a cloudburst, with Seraj constituency being the worst affected.
He visited the impacted areas, met families at rehabilitation centres, and sought central help to deal with the crisis.
Speaking to the mediapersons, CM Sukhu said, "... A massive disaster has struck the state in three assembly constituencies of Mandi district, caused by a cloudburst... Areas of the Seraj constituency have been affected the most... I visited the rehabilitation centres and spoke to many families affected by the cloudburst..."
The Chief Minister stressed the need for a scientific evaluation of the disaster. "It is very important to study the kind of disaster that has occurred... I also spoke to the Union Home Minister regarding this, and I will also speak to the Science and Technology Minister regarding the reason for the increasing cloudburst..." he added.
Earlier in the day, while the administration is engaged in relief work after the natural disaster in Seraj assembly constituency of Mandi district, the social organisations and common people are also coming forward to provide relief material to the people in large numbers.
In the same sequence, relief material has been sent from the Bara zone of the Nadaun Assembly of Hamirpur district. The relief material was formally handed over to Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu in Thunag on Thursday.
The relief material includes five sacks of flour, 11 sacks of rice, one quintal of sugar, 60 kg gram dal, 60 kg maize, 45 liters of oil, 50 kg potatoes, 10 buckets, 10 mugs, 90 pairs of shoes and slippers, 3700 plates and glasses, pressure cookers, children's milk bottles, bath and laundry soap.
Retired SBI manager Sudarshan Jariyal, former vice-president Rajesh Kumar, 20-point programme members Kuldeep Kumar, Jeet Singh, Nikhil Kumar, Atul Patial and Balveer Singh handed over this material to the Chief Minister during his visit to Seraj today.
CM Sukhu thanked all the generous people for this spirit of cooperation and said that this is a symbol of sensitivity and unity in society. He said that this relief material will now be distributed to the disaster-affected families through the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi.
The displaced residents of Thunag in Mandi, where torrential rains and flash floods wreaked havoc, said they had never seen such flooding and recounted the horror they endured.
Thunag in Mandi district is severely affected by the torrential rains and flash floods on the night of June 30 and July 1.