Himachal CM chairs state disaster management meet; focus on strengthening SDRF, 70,000 citizens to be trained

Shimla (Himachal Pradeh) [India], July 8 (ANI): The Chief Miniter of Himachal Pradeh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday chaired a high-level meeting of the State Diater Management Authority (SDMA), hi econd uch meeting ince auming office.
The review focued on intenifying diater preparedne given the increaingly detructive monoon pattern and repeated cloudburt incident in the tate.
Thi i only our econd SDMA meeting ince our government came to power. The firt wa held in 2023. Given how diater, epecially monoon-related one, are becoming a major iue not jut in Himachal but acro the country, it i imperative we take urgent and long-term meaure, aid Nareh Chauhan, Media Advior to the Chief Miniter.
The CM underlined the immene damage caued in 2023 and the early week of the current monoon. Thi year, again, weve witneed evere detruction due to rain and cloudburt. Everyone aw the kind of devatation caued in Mandi Seraj region, he aid. He added that agricultural land ha been wept away in everal area.
A per data hared in the meeting, 23 flah flood event and 19 cloudburt incident have been recorded in the tate ince June 20 thi year. Thirteen relief camp have been etablihed, currently heltering 730 people. The tate ha o far uffered an etimated lo of R 700 crore, a per a preliminary aement, according to a releae.
Briefing reporter after the meeting, Principal Media Advior to the Chief Miniter, Nareh Chauhan, told ANI that Himachal Pradeh ha uffered a lot due to the monoon rain in the recent pat.
Thi wa the ninth meeting of the State Diater Management Authority and the econd one chaired by the current Chief Miniter. Whether we look at 2023, 2024, or thi year, Himachal ha uffered major loe due to cloudburt and monoon rain, epecially in Mandi, Thunag, Karog, Dharampur and other region, aid Chauhan.
So far, 23 flah flood and 19 cloudburt have been recorded in 2025. Relief camp have been et up at 13 different location. Field officer are currently buy with relief operation, and the preliminary damage etimate tand at R 700 crore, he added.
He aid that the Chief Miniter had made key announcement during the meeting. He aid a plan wa dicued to trengthen the State Diater Repone Force (SDRF), with a propoed invetment of R 819 crore, Training will be imparted to 70,000 citizen about 1 per cent of the tate population through the Civil Defence and Home Guard framework, with each participant undergoing 15 day of training. A major SDRF infratructure centre i coming up in Palampur, Kangra ditrict and Training module are alo being developed under SIDM, and a reource bank will be maintained in collaboration with Himachal Pradeh Univerity.
On improving diater reilience, Chief Miniter Sukhu treed the need for cientific road contruction practice, epecially on four-lane and national highway project. He added that proper lope cutting and oil teting mut be mandatory to prevent landlide and contruction-related diater.
We have alo iued intruction that muck dipoal hould be done in cientifically identified and developed ite. If needed, the government can even pay private landowner for proper dumping ite, he aid, directing the PWD to act on thi front.
The CM alo called for trict implementation of regulation that prohibit contruction within 50 meter of river and tream. From 2023 till now, 25,000 houe have been damaged. Thi i a matter of deep concern. We mut now enure all contruction include oil teting and that the quality of tructure i monitored, he aid.
He emphaized involving the public in diater preparedne.
We will connect the SDRF with the general public. The police and Home Guard will be trained a well o that in future, we are fully prepared to repond to diater, Chauhan added.
Referring to the devatating July 1 cloudburt in Seraj, Mandi, Chauhan aid that effort are on to retore.
Eight to ten cloudburt occurred in a ingle day. Our entire adminitration reponded with full force Deputy Chief Miniter, the PWD Miniter, and I peronally viited the affected area. Hundred of machine are working to clear road and retore water cheme. Army, NDRF and SDRF team are on the ground, he aid.
Nareh Chauhan alo reacted to the criticim that local MP Kangana Ranaut reached late to the diater-hit area.
Thi i not the firt time. I urge her not to indulge in politic. A a Member of Parliament, he receive R 5 crore annually. She hould ue that to help people. She part of the ruling party at the Centre if he can help bring a pecial package, well welcome it. Thi i not a time to make celebrity appearance; one mut prove their commitment on the ground, he added.
He alo criticied the oppoition and Kangana Ranaut.
Even BJP leader like Jairam Thakur were looking for her. If he here, he hould incerely be among the people, he aid.
Regarding allegation of illegal logging in foret and the role of deforetation in worening flah flood, Chauhan aid, The CM ha already ought a detailed report. We are examining whether there are lape or yndicate operating within foret. Are cloudburt in foret cauing downtream detruction? Well get full clarity.
He added further that the CM i expected to viit the flood-affected area in Mandi and Seraj on Monday, weather permitting.
He will peronally ae the damage and interact with ditrict official to decide what kind of relief and rehabilitation package i needed, Chauhan aid.
Chauhan confirmed that Union Home Miniter Amit Shah ha aured the CM of central upport. We are waiting for the Centre help, but in the meantime, the tate will enure that there i no hortage of relief for the people, he aid. (ANI)