Uttarakhand Rains: Amit Shah Conducts Aerial Survey, State Reports Damages Worth Rs 7,000 Crore

Amit Shah said that an amount of Rs 250 crore was sent to the state nearly a month ago considering its vulnerability to natural disasters.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of the rain-ravaged areas in Uttarakhand to review the damage pegged by the state at Rs 7,000 crore.

Talking to reporters at the Jollygrant airport after the survey of affected areas in Kumaon region, Shah informed that preemptive action of the central and state government agencies had helped to contain the damage, according to news agency PTI.

There are ongoing relief and rescue operations in the worst-hit Kumaon region to restore connectivity and evacuate people from vulnerable areas.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has informed that continuous rain for three days have caused damages worth Rs 7,000 crore. The CM had said that restoring the network of damaged roads and bridges were priority besides evacuating people to safety, he said.

"A heavy rain alert was issued well in advance which helped take required precautionary steps like halting the Chardham Yatra. The damage could have been more if it was not done. Timely mobilisation of search and rescue teams, and arrival of IAF helicopters to assist in rescue operations helped minimise the potential damage," Shah said.

"Sixty-four unfortunate rain-related deaths have been reported in the state, while more than eleven people are still missing," the minister said. As per the authorities, the death toll in the state rose to 54, with 19 people injured and five still missing. Nainital district has reported the maximum number of 28 deaths.

Although no relief package for Uttarakhand has been announced so far due to the devastation caused by incessant rains, Shah noted that a detailed estimate of the losses needs to be prepared first.

He said that an amount of Rs 250 crore was sent to the state nearly a month ago considering its vulnerability to natural disasters and it can take care of the relief and rescue measures currently underway.

The Centre is with the state government and it will give all support to Uttarakhand in its rehabilitation efforts, Shah said.

He said all blocked roads in the affected areas have been cleared, except three which suffered nearly 25 metre-wide breaches, and added that 3,500 people have been rescued so far.