Rs 1,217 cr loss due to rains in Himachal, 264 dead
Shimla, Sep 18: Himachal Pradesh suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 1,217.29 crore during the monsoon rains that also claimed 264 lives, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said here on Tuesday.
He said the Public Works Department suffered a maximum loss of Rs 735 crore due to the rains in the form of damage to roads and bridges.
He said it has been observed that although the maximum damage was due to heavy rains, unplanned dumping of debris was a contributory factor.
He directed the officials to ensure that the debris was disposed off scientifically.
Thakur was presiding over a meeting here to review the losses and damage caused by monsoon rains from July 1 to September 17.
Thakur said that the Irrigation and Public Health Department had suffered losses of Rs 328.78 crore.
A total of 33 cloud bursts and 391 landslides occurred in the state and 264 persons lost their lives during the period, which includes 199 deaths due to road accidents caused by damaged roads.
He said that one company of the National Disaster Response Force had been positioned at Nurpur town in Kangra district besides daily monitoring of water level in major rivers.
For the first time, landslide sensors were installed at Cotrupi and Aut in Mandi district for early warning of landslides to avoid any untoward incidents.
The Chief Minister said the state would submit a memorandum of losses and damages to the government of India for financial assistance.
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India describes attack on Fujairah 'unacceptable'
New Delhi (PTI): India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians.
New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike.
"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said.
Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia.
"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," he said.
The attack on Fujairah city came as the ceasefire between the US and Iran came under strain in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas pass, remains a major sticking point in the talks. Shipping through the narrow Gulf waterway has been severely disrupted by the conflict, triggering a sharp increase in oil prices and energy shortages in several countries.
The UAE's defence ministry on Monday said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran.
The ministry affirmed that it "remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country."
