Shimla: In response to the devastating monsoon havoc that has wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced the setting up of the 'Aapda Kosh-2023' disaster fund. This fund aims to provide vital assistance to those who have suffered immense losses due to the recent heavy rains in the state.

Chief Minister Sukhu took to Twitter to make the announcement and appealed to his followers to contribute generously to the fund. The primary objective is to extend support to the affected individuals who have faced unprecedented devastation caused by the relentless downpours.

To encourage participation and donations, the Chief Minister emphasized that contributions to the 'Aapda Kosh' can be made through various means such as cash, cheque, demand draft, or online banking. The account details for donations are as follows: Account Number 40610107381 (IFSC Code HPSC0000406) at HP State Cooperative Bank and Account Number 99990015041948 (IFSC Code HDFC0004116) at HDFC Bank.

The Chief Minister's tweet also mentioned that contributions can be made online through the website cmhimachal.nic.in via e-banking. This enables individuals to conveniently contribute to the fund from anywhere.

Himachal Pradesh, a picturesque hill-state, has been severely impacted by cloudbursts, landslides, and flooding triggered by incessant rainfall. The region is currently grappling with the aftermath of these calamities and is in urgent need of assistance.

The rain fury has resulted in the tragic loss of 108 lives in Himachal Pradesh since the previous weekend. The India Meteorological Department has further forecasted heavy showers until July 18, exacerbating the challenges faced by the state.

As per the Department of Revenue of the Himachal government's official release on Friday, the estimated cost of damage to public infrastructure in the state is a staggering Rs 3738.28 crore.

Among all the states in North India affected by the monsoon havoc, Himachal Pradesh has been hit the hardest. Recognizing the extensive losses suffered by the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has authorized the early release of the second installment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) amounting to Rs 180.40 crore.

This allocation of funds will enable the state government to undertake essential relief measures for the affected population during the ongoing monsoon season, as stated in a press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed that a total of Rs 10,031.20 crore has already been disbursed to State Disaster Response Funds (SDRFs) in 27 states for the fiscal year 2023-24.

To aid in rescue operations in Himachal Pradesh, deployment of 11 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) equipped with rescue boats and other necessary equipment has been initiated.

Additionally, the Home Ministry announced that one column of 1 PARA SF and 205 Army Aviation squadrons has been stationed at Paonta Sahib for civil evacuation purposes. Two MI-17V5 helicopters have been deployed to facilitate evacuation missions.

The central government has also constituted Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to conduct on-site assessments of the situation and evaluate the relief efforts undertaken by the Himachal Pradesh government. These teams will commence their field visits on July 17, as stated in the press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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