Excessive rains last week caused heavy damage: HP CM

Excessive rains on the intervening night of August 6 and 7 caused heavy damage in Sirmaur district and the National Highway No 72 was blocked at several places due to landslides, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh informed the Assembly today.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Rajiv Bindal of BJP, Singh said as per the information received, agriculture and private property suffered massive losses and a two storey house and two buffaloes were buried under the debris while another house was badly damaged.
Debris entered 21 houses in Rukhri village and 71 shops in Shambhuwala village and standing crops were also damaged.

Singh said that the government is seized of the situation and has directed the district administration to take immediate steps.
Heavy machinery was deployed to unclog the highway and immediate relief of Rs 40,000 and Rs 13,000 was disbursed to the owners of the two houses, and Rs 1,13,500 was distributed to rain-affected people in Shambhuwala.
He said Rs 3 crore was released to district administration for relief and rehabilitation purpose.