Himachal Pradesh rains: BJP President JP Nadda, Union Minister Anurag Thakur assess damage in Shimla today

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₹15 crore to the disaster relief fund. This contribution will play a crucial role in mitigating the extensive damage inflicted by heavy rains, floods, cloudbursts, landslides, and slope failures in the state. The death toll from rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh has climbed to 78 over the past week with the recovery of another body from the debris of a collapsed temple, PTI reported.

Rescue operations involving the Army, National and State Disaster Response Forces, Police, and Home Guards are ongoing to recover bodies from landslide debris. Since the onset of the monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh on June 24, 338 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents and road accidents, with 38 individuals still missing, according to the state's emergency operation centre. Of these, 221 people have perished directly due to rain-related incidents.

Also read: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand reeling from devastating monsoon, massive damage and loss of life. 10 updates To address the crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government declared the state a "Natural Calamity Affected Area" due to the extensive damage caused by heavy rains, urging the central government to declare it a national disaster. This has been described as the most devastating natural calamity in the state in the past 50 years.

Deputy Chief Minister Agnihotri highlighted significant losses incurred by various departments, including over ₹2,000 crore by the Jal Shakti Department. Also read: Himachal Pradesh rains: Kullu admin releases list of blocked roads. Read here He also emphasised the plight of residents in Indora and Fatehpur, particularly in the Mand area, who have been severely affected by the rising water levels of the Beas river.