New Delhi
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the destruction caused by rains and landslides in Himachal Pradesh a national disaster. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted the widespread destruction in the state, with over 428 people losing their lives, including children, and more than 16,000 animals and birds dying. She noted that over 13,000 houses have been damaged fully or partially, and crucial national highways and roads have been severely impacted. Priyanka Gandhi praised the resilience and solidarity of the people of Himachal Pradesh who are actively participating in relief efforts, offering ‘shram daan’ (labour contributions) and collecting funds to help those affected by the disasters. She expressed concern that the Central government reduced import duties on foreign apples during these challenging times, negatively affecting local apple growers. In her appeal, Priyanka Gandhi called for the disaster to be declared a national disaster, similar to the Kedarnath tragedy of 2013, and requested financial assistance for the victims and the state to aid in relief and rebuilding efforts. She emphasized the importance of the Central government providing support to the people of Himachal Pradesh during this crisis. Several districts in Himachal Pradesh have faced flood-like situations due to heavy rains and landslides in recent months, resulting in extensive damage and loss of lives. The state government has estimated losses of approximately Rs 12,000 crore and has requested a special package to aid in recovery efforts.
