Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 3 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri conducted an on-site assessment of the damage caused by the flash flood to the Kurpan Khad Water Supply Scheme at Baagi Pul in the Kullu district on Friday.
He revealed that the Rs 315 crore Kurpan Khad project, currently under construction, suffered extensive damage due to the flash flood and directed the department to take immediate and necessary measures to restore the project.
He expressed concern over the significant loss of approximately Rs 10 crore incurred by the Jal Shakti Vibhag in Baagi Pul due to the disaster.
Agnihotri also commended the tireless efforts of the department’s officials and employees working diligently to restore the water supply schemes.
The HP Deputy CM also visited the Matiyana region in Shimla district to assess the damage to the water supply schemes and related infrastructure.
He reported that the department has suffered an additional loss of Rs 10 crore due to damage to critical components, including the booster, intake structure, feed line sump well, pump house, pumping machinery, and pipes.
“As many as 19 water supply schemes and a sewerage line resulting in a loss of Rs 7.50 crore were assessed in the Rampur area. Four of these schemes were still under construction,” he stated.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that 10 schemes have been successfully restored, and efforts are underway to restore the remaining five schemes soon.
He also met with families affected by the disaster in Baagi Pul area in Kullu district. Describing the situation as “grim and painful,” he assured that the administration is working diligently to provide relief to the affected.
Deputy CM Agnihotri further emphasised that the government was extending all possible support to those affected.
Earlier, a total of six people have lost their lives and 47 are still missing after a cloudburst and following flash floods in the Kullu, Mandi and Shimla regions of Himachal Pradesh.
On Friday afternoon, the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Operation Centre provided a situation report at the three affected places for the past 36 hours, which showed the summary of damage and loss on the intervening nights of July 31 and August 1.
According to the report, Mandi has witnessed the most casualties with five, followed by Kullu with one. Shimla so far has reported no casualties.
The report also mentioned that Shimla has the highest number of missing people so far, at 33, followed by Kullu at nine and Mandi at six.
A total of 55 people had been evacuated to relief camps and 25 people reported being stranded.
61 houses were fully damaged, as the report stated, with 42 houses being partially damaged. In both cases, the majority of the damage was seen at Kullu.
In the wake of the catastrophic incident, the state government, led by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, had earlier mobilised extensive rescue and relief efforts.
The information about the cloud burst was received by the District Disaster Management Authority early Thursday morning, which took place near the hydropower project in Samej Khad in Jhakri, Rampur.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said that as soon as the information about the incident was received, the NDRF team, SDRF team, police, and rescue team left for the site of the incident. (ANI)
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