Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the Centre would release adequate funds to Himachal Pradesh from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for relief and restoration in flood-affected areas.
A delegation comprising ministers from Himachal Pradesh headed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh met Prime Minister in New Delhi and briefed him about the massive losses on account of heavy rains, and requested central assistance under the NDRF and the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Ambika Soni, general secretary, All India Congress Committee also accompanied the delegation.
Virbhadra Singh told the Prime Minister that first installment of SDRF amounting to Rs 68.12 crore was released by the Central Government in July 2013 and State Government had released its share of Rs 15.14 crore. He said that total 129.24 crores had been released to various departments and district administration for providing immediate relief to the affected areas. “The state as a whole experienced heavy rainfall, which was 576 percent to 1358 percent above the normal rainfall during the period of June 15-17. Kinnaur and Sirmour district were the worst affected. Total 69 human lives had been lost and 2427 animals have perished in the flash floods. 11157 houses, 4519 roads, 2763 water supply schemes had been badly damaged in the flash floods,” he added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sympathised with the flood victims of the state and said that the state had badly suffered in recent flash floods and assured all possible central assistance. He also appreciated the relief and rehabilitation works done by State Government in restoring the normalcy in the flood affected areas.