Uttarakhand Suffers Over Rs 2500 Cr Monsoon Loss; 75 Dead, 95 Missing Amid Rain Fury

The devastation in the mountains this monsoon season has deeply wounded Uttarakhand. Due to natural disasters like excessive rainfall, cloudbursts leading to landslides and river floods. 75 people have lost their lives across various districts so far, while more than 100 have been injured and 95 are still missing. These calamities have also caused extensive damage to property and livestock. In many places, river embankments, protective walls, and check dams have been washed away by the strong currents, and countless roads and bridges have also been destroyed.

Additionally, irrigation canals, drinking water supply schemes, and electricity lines have suffered heavy damage. In light of this, the administration has directed all concerned departments to submit a detailed report of the losses.

Based on the initial picture, it is feared that the state has suffered an economic loss of over Rs 2,500 crore, and this figure is likely to rise. To recover from these massive losses, the state government is now preparing to appeal to the central government for help. The state has been continuously facing disasters since May of this monsoon season.

Following administrative orders, various departments have started sending their damage assessments. If we look at the initial figures from just seven major departments, the loss has already reached nearly Rs 2,000 crore. Considering the reports from all departments and the ongoing rains, the total loss is estimated to exceed Rs 2,500 crore. A draft proposal is being prepared based on this to be sent to the central government for compensation. Along with this, work is also underway to make the rehabilitation policy for the disaster-affected people more practical and effective.

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The breakdown of damage to the assets of various departments is as follows: the Public Works Department (PWD) suffered a loss of Rs 554.38 crore, the Energy Department Rs 448 crore, the Irrigation Department Rs 445 crore, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rs 415 crore, the Drinking Water Department Rs 90 crore, the Minor Irrigation Department Rs 35 crore, and the Panchayati Raj Department Rs 10 crore. Other losses from the disaster include the deaths of 75 people, injuries to 107 people, and 95 people missing.

During this period, 1,431 large and small cattle have also died. In the disaster, 33 cowsheds were completely destroyed, 226 residential buildings collapsed, 71 houses were severely damaged, and 1,828 homes suffered partial damage. Furthermore, 192.816 hectares of agricultural land have also been ruined.

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Uttarakhand's Chief Secretary, Anand Bardhan, stated, "a request will be made to the Centre for assistance to compensate for the damage caused to the state by the disaster and for the proper rehabilitation of the affected people. A proposal in this regard will soon be sent to the central government. After that, a team from the Centre will visit the state to assess the damage."