Himachal Pradesh floods: Loss could be more than 2,575 crore, says Virbhadra Singh

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the loss to the public and private property due to flash floods in the state could be much higher than the state government's preliminary estimate of around Rs 2,575 crores.

He said the detailed estimate of flash floods loss would be assessed after normal life is restored in the entire area.

He said revenue officials would conduct a detailed survey of the loss of property and the state government will give suitable compensation to kin of people who have lost lives and property in the devastating floods.

The state government has demanded an immediate relief package of Rs 1,000 crore from the Prime Minister.

The Chief Minister said the tragedy has pushed the state years back in terms of development and around 90 per cent cash crops, particularly apple crop, has been completely destroyed by flash floods in Kinnaur district.

He said consumers of metropolitan cities will miss the popular apple varieties of Kinnaur during current apple season and added the government has para-dropped 300 horticulture experts in Kinnaur region to restore the damaged apple trees and bring them to original shape and size through various horticulture techniques.

Virbhadra Singh said stranded tourists in Kinnaur have been airlifted and added that no death of any tourist has been reported from flood-affected areas of the state.

This is for the first time in Kinnaur's history that the area experienced snowfall in June, the Chief Minister said, adding the entire area had experienced heavy snowfall and rainfall for continuous 72 hours from June 15 to 17.

Restoration of electricity, water supply and other essential services is being done on a war footing in the entire area and the government hopes to restore all essential services in a month.

The Chief Minister also accused the top opposition BJP state leadership of levelling baseless allegations against state government regarding flood relief measures, saying not even a single BJP leader has visited the flood-affected areas of the state so far.

He alleged BJP leaders only criticized the government and provoked people while sitting comfortably in their homes away from tragedy sites.